IPAFFS is needed when goods fall into a group subject to border controls in Great Britain: live animals, products of animal origin, high-risk food and feed not of animal origin, composite products, or higher-risk plants and plant products. Whether a particular product is covered depends on its group and risk category, not on whether it looks like an ordinary commercial good.
Contents
One of the most common questions from importers is: how do I know whether my goods need IPAFFS at all? The answer determines whether the import is prepared in advance, or starts with a nervous scramble to catch up on formalities just before the border.
Where to start: identify the product group
GOV.UK states that the following groups of goods must be notified in IPAFFS before they arrive in Great Britain (from EU and non-EU countries):
- live animals and germinal products,
- animal by-products,
- products of animal origin (meat, eggs, dairy, honey, gelatine),
- high-risk food and feed not of animal origin,
- composite food products,
- medium and high risk plants and plant products.
If a product has several ingredients, work out whether it is a composite product (processed animal and plant products, e.g. a lasagne) or a compound product (more than one animal product, e.g. sausages containing cheese) – GOV.UK has separate guidance for each.
Check the risk category
The commodity code is only a starting point. According to GOV.UK all products of animal origin are low or medium risk, and you must check the risk category of each commodity to find out which documents you need. Plants and plant products from the EU are categorised as high risk, medium risk A, medium risk B or low risk. High risk and medium risk A and B goods must move under plant health controls; low risk goods need none. Categories are assessed on an ongoing basis and may change, so check the current risk categorisations before every shipment. As at the GOV.UK page updated on 14 October 2026, medium risk A and B fruit and vegetables from the EU are temporarily treated as low risk and do not need plant health controls.
Check the import conditions and documents
- Products of animal origin: may only be imported from approved countries and approved establishments. Medium risk goods need a health certificate; low risk goods need a commercial document; in some cases an import licence is required.
- High risk and medium risk A plants: require registration on IPAFFS, a phytosanitary certificate from the EU exporter, an import notification and payment of plant health check fees.
- Import notification (CHED): for products of animal origin it must be submitted at least one working day before the consignment is expected at the point of entry; for high risk and medium risk A plants, at least 4 working hours before landing for air and roll-on-roll-off freight and 1 working day before arrival for all other freight.
The most common mistake
A company assumes that because the goods are "ordinary commercial goods", they don't need an additional notification. In reality, it's the classification and product group that determine whether IPAFFS needs to be handled. Another frequent mistake is checking the question only after transport has been booked, when there is no time left to obtain certificates.
Summary
If you're not sure whether your import needs IPAFFS, check before booking transport. Send us a description of the goods and we'll help you sort it out.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: 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
Related guides
Also see IPAFFS step by step in 2026, The IPAFFS notification, First import from the UK – 12 questions and Transporting food to the UK: customs clearance and IPAFFS. For the wider context of documents and the order of steps, see UK-PL import – procedures and how clearance works.
Frequently asked questions
Does every food product need IPAFFS?
Not always. The requirement depends on the product group, the risk category and the current British requirements. IPAFFS covers, among others, products of animal origin, high-risk food and feed not of animal origin, and composite products.
Is IPAFFS determined by tariff code?
The code is an important starting point, but you also need to confirm the product group and risk category, and the requirements published on GOV.UK for that category.
When is the best time to check whether goods need IPAFFS?
Before booking transport and before shipping, because that's when there's still time to obtain health or phytosanitary certificates and prepare the notification.
How much notice must I give in IPAFFS?
For products of animal origin, at least one working day before arrival at the point of entry. For high risk and medium risk A plants: at least 4 working hours before landing for air and roll-on-roll-off freight, and 1 working day before arrival for all other freight.
Are plants and fruit from the EU always subject to checks?
No. High risk and medium risk A and B plants and plant products are subject to plant health controls; low risk ones are not. Medium risk A and B fruit and vegetables from the EU are currently treated temporarily as low risk, but categories can change, so check the current position on GOV.UK.
Related guides
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