Importers and import representatives should utilize IPAFFS to inform authorities in Great Britain prior to the following items show up from EU and non-EU nations:
- live animals
- germinal items
- animal spin-offs (ABP)
- high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)
- items of animal origin (POAO)
- composite foodstuff
- plants and plant items
You do not require to inform authorities about imports from the Republic of Ireland of:
- ABP and HRFNAO
- POAO
- composite items
- plants and plant items
Before you start
Before you can utilize IPAFFS you should have a Government Gateway account.
If you do not have a Government Gateway account, you can set one up when you choose ‘start now’.
Once you’ve established your account you’ll have the ability to sign up for the Defra service you wish to utilize, consisting of the IPAFFS service.
If you already utilize other Defra services, you can sign up for IPAFFS by choosing ‘register for more services’.
If you’re an import representative acting upon behalf of an importer you should sign up for IPAFFS utilizing your own business information. You must not choose ‘intermediaries’ on the ‘Manage account’ screen in the IPAFFS service as this does not use to IPAFFS users.
When you raise a notice in IPAFFS, you are accountable for the consignment from when it gets in Great Britain till the authorities finish their checks.
Check import guidelines
Find out when you require to inform authorities about your items and other guidelines you should follow to import:
Get help
If you require technical assist with import notices:
If you require help to finish import notices for:
If you require assist with your customizeds statement
You can call the HMRC helpline 0300 322 9434. Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm, and Saturday to Sunday 8am to 4pm.
Last upgraded 12 June 2023
+ show all updates
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Added a link to assistance on importing plants and plant items from non-EU 3rd nations to Northern Ireland under ‘Check import guidelines’. Added a link to IPAFFS for plants assistance in the ‘Get help’ area.
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Added details for import representatives acting upon behalf of an importer.
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Updated the area ‘If you require assist with your customizeds statement’.
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Added a ‘If you require assist with your customizeds statement’ area.
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Updated to consist of plants and reveal modification in guidelines from 1 January 2022 for imports from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain.
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Updated with brand-new dates for the intro of controls on imports of items of animal origin, animal spin-offs and high danger food and feed not of animal origin.
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Updated to reveal IPAFFS should be utilized for imports from the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) from 1 October 2021.
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Updated to reveal when importers can utilize IPAFFS to import their kind of items.
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Explained what you require to send a notice, when to send it, and included a registration on IPAFFS guide.
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Removed the registration guides PDFs – you can now utilize the service to comprehend how to sign up.
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Explained that you can register into IPAFFS if you have actually signed up for another Defra service by signing into your service.
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The dates concurred with the EU commission for utilizing IPAFFS (7 and 15 September 2020) are no longer legitimate – TRACES will still be the procedure to follow.
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Explained that “from 7 September 2020, you should utilize IPAFFS to inform authorities of GB imports of items of animal origin (POAO) from non-EU nations.” Clarified processes about importing from EU and non-EU nations.
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Added registration guides.
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Removed “If your notice is revealed as ‘in progress’ you’ll require to call the appropriate border control post (BCP) to ask for access to make your modifications” due to the fact that it just uses to non-EU imports.
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Added details on how and when to send and update a notice.
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Updated details about IPAFFS and included a link to TRACES New Technology (NT), which should be utilized from 14 December 2019.
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IPAFFS is open for registration.
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Revised page to explain more about what IPAFFS is – page will be upgraded when IPAFFS is open for registration and when any brand-new import procedures are validated.
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Edited call out to make it clearer how TRACES and IPAFFS can be utilized prior to and after Brexit.
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Added note that IPAFFS is presently for screening and training just. Importers must continue to utilize TRACES to inform authorities of imports into the UK.
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First released.
