IPAFFS Step by Step in 2026 — When a Notification Is Needed and What to Prepare

IPAFFS keeps coming up in conversations with importers whenever goods subject to additional border requirements are entering the UK. The problem is that many companies only find out about IPAFFS once the transport is already close to the border or the documents have only been partly gathered.

This article puts the topic into a practical structure: when IPAFFS is needed, who can file the notification, and what data is worth preparing in advance. If you handle imports into the UK, also see our article IPAFFS Notification.

When IPAFFS is needed

GOV.UK states that IPAFFS is used to notify the authorities in Great Britain of the import of certain groups of goods. This covers, among others:

• live animals,
• germinal products,
• animal by-products,
• high-risk food and feed not of animal origin,
• products of animal origin,
• composite food products,
• medium and high risk plants and plant products.

Who can use IPAFFS

Importers and import agents can register with the system and file notifications. If you act as an agent on behalf of an importer, GOV.UK stresses that you register with IPAFFS using your own business details.

What to prepare before filing a notification

1. Import documents in electronic form, preferably PDF.
2. The importer's details and a description of the goods.
3. Information on the type of commodity and the relevant product group.
4. Transport details and the planned arrival date.
5. Where needed, the relevant certificates or health documents.

What to watch out for in practice

• Not every import into the UK requires IPAFFS, but if the goods fall into one of the groups covered by the system, a missing notification can stop the shipment.
• For goods from different groups, separate import notifications may be needed.
• For some plant and animal products, it is not just IPAFFS itself that matters, but also the specific rules for that category of import.

The most common mistake companies make

The most common mistake is treating IPAFFS as an add-on that "can be sorted out later". In practice, companies should first confirm whether the goods are covered by IPAFFS, and only then build the transport and clearance timeline.

Who this article matters most to

• importers of food products and products of animal origin,
• businesses trading in SPS goods,
• companies bringing plants and plant products into Great Britain,
• agents and forwarders coordinating import documents.

Summary

IPAFFS is not an add-on "at the end of the process" — it is something that needs to be checked at the import-planning stage. If your company is unsure whether the goods require a notification and what documents to prepare, send us the topic for review.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS)
• GOV.UK: Import plants and plant products from the EU to Great Britain
• GOV.UK: Import animal products for human consumption to Great Britain
• GOV.UK: Transiting animals and animal products through Great Britain

How to make this process more effective in practice

The best results come from a consistent way of working: one data list, one person responsible, and quick document verification before the goods move. This helps the company cut down on corrections, transport stoppages and unnecessary operating costs.

Common operational questions

What should you do if the data in the documents differ?

Hold the declaration and align the source documents. It is best to resolve discrepancies before clearance, not after the process has already stopped.

Who should be responsible for the final data check?

One person on the company's or the operator's side who has full visibility of the commercial, transport and customs documents.

When is it worth carrying out an internal process review?

After every problematic clearance, and whenever there is a change in product, delivery direction or sales model.

Related articles

• EORI number in 2026
• IPAFFS in 2026
• The T1 document in 2026

If you would like to go through this topic using your company's own data, send us a cooperation form and describe the planned movement of goods.

Key intent: IPAFFS step by step

This material answers the query IPAFFS step by step and shows how to go through the topic step by step, without unnecessary corrections or operational delays.