On April 28, 2023, the UK Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) published the risk categorization of EU goods subject to the new sanitary or phytosanitary controls under the draft Border Target Operating Model (TOM) published in April.

The Target Operating Model (TOM) categorizes live animals, germinal products, products of animal origin, and animal by-products as high risk, medium risk, or low risk. Each category has different requirements to be followed:

• Low risk: Authorities must be notified about goods arriving to Great Britain (GB) using IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System). Goods must come with a commercial document from the supplier. A health certificate is not needed.
• Medium risk: Authorities must be notified about goods arriving to GB using IPAFFS. A health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country where the goods originated is needed, or an official importer declaration (where applicable).  Additionally, from January 31, 2024, goods may be subject to physical import checks.
• High risk: Authorities must be notified about goods arriving to GB using IPAFFS. A health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country where the goods originated is needed. Most goods in this category are currently subject to physical import checks, and those will continue.

Effective October 31, 2023, for the importation of live animals or animal products from the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states into Great Britain, importers must follow the sanitary and phytosanitary rules for the import risk category of their goods.

Link to the UK Government Guidance can be found here: Import risk categories for animals and animal products imported from the EU to Great Britain, from 31 October 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)