1. CHEDs

A CHED declaring the goods for re-import is required.

The following documents are required along with the CHED:

2. COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTS.

• A copy of the export invoice, packing list and bill of lading that accompanied the consignment on export
• A copy of the import invoice (if any), packing list (if any) and bill of lading accompanying the consignment on its return.
• A copy of any surveyors report, any rejection notice or other relevant document

3. ORIGINAL EXPORT HEATH CERTIFICATE

The original health certificate used for the export, or an original copy authenticated by the competent authority in GB that issued it is required.

If no health certificate was issued then other evidence will need to be provided confirming the origin of the consignment, including details of the premises of dispatch.

4. OFFICIAL DECLARATION FROM THIRD COUNTRY OR IMPORTER DECLARATION

An official declaration of the competent authority or other public authorities of the third country giving reasons for refusal + required public and animal health assurances health assurances must be presented. The original declaration is required

The official declaration must:

• State the reason for the refusal of entry,
• State the place and date of unloading, storage and re-loading in the third country and
• Confirm that:

i. the consignment did not undergo any handling other than unloading, storage and re-loading in the third country;

ii. the unloading and re-loading of the products was handled hygienically to avoid cross contamination;

iii. the products were stored under hygienic conditions and at the required temperature for the relevant types of goods;

Additional declarations required for food with animal health requirements

iv. effective measures were put in place to avoid the contamination of the products of animal origin with disease agents which cause transmissible animal diseases listed in Annex I to Directive 2002/99/EC during the unloading, storage and re-loading in the third country.

v. the place of any unloading, storage and re-loading in the third country was not subject to animal health movement restrictions due to transmissible animal diseases listed in Annex I to Directive 2002/99/EC during the unloading, storage and re-loading in the third country.

Note: The diseases listed in Annex I to Directive 2002/99/EC are classical swine fever, African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, Newcastle disease, rinderpest, sheep and goat plague, swine vesicular disease, aquaculture diseases.

Either the individual diseases appropriate to the product concerned can be stated in the official declaration or the wording “transmissible animal diseases listed in Annex I to Directive 2002/99/EC” can be used.

IMPORTERS DECLARATION replacing need for official declaration in certain circumstances

Where the goods (whether or not with animal health requirements) are being returned in the same container in which they were exported and with the original export seals on the container still intact, a statement from the person responsible for the load can be accepted as an alternative to the official declaration if we agree.

The statement must:

• State the reason for the refusal of entry, and
• Confirm that transport has taken place under conditions appropriate for the products concerned

If you wish to exercise this option please discuss the matter with us.

If we don’t agree or if at examination the export seals on the container are missing or have been broken, the official declaration must be provided.

5. DECLARATION FROM APHA

A declaration from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is required to confirm they agree to the consignment being delivered to the GB premises declared on the CHED. Apply to imports@apha.gov.uk

However, a declaration is not required if all of these requirements are met:

• The product concerned has no animal health requirements, and,
• the delivery address is in GB, and
• the delivery address is the same premises from which the goods were exported

Whether a POAO has animal health requirements can be determined by looking at the normal import certificate and seeing whether animal health attestations that must be completed are present or not. Therefore honey, highly-refined products, frogs legs, snails and most fishery products have no animal health requirements whereas meat, meat preparations, meat products, dairy products and egg products do have animal health requirements.

If in doubt contact us for advice.

6. EXAMINATION:

All consignments will have at least an identity check.

7. RELEASE:

If all the checks are satisfactory then the CHED will be signed off to indicate it is a re-import and the goods must travel directly to the delivery address declared on the CHED.

8. CONTROL TO DESTINATION (“CHANNELLING”)

Where a declaration from APHA is required in accordance with point 5 above, the consignment must be monitored (“channelled”) from the BCP to the delivery address detailed on the CHED, in accordance with assimilated Reg.(EU) 2019/1666. 

The consignment must be delivered only to the delivery address detailed on the CHED and must arrive there within 15 days of release.

9. FOLLOW UP AT DELIVERY ADDRESS

On arrival at destination, the person in charge of the delivery address must report the safe arrival of the consignment to APHA or the relevant authority in Scotland or Wales.

Contact details are:

• England: importsriskmanagement@apha.gov.uk
• Scotland: APHA.Scotland@apha.gov.uk  
• Wales: APHAWalesImports@apha.gov.uk

Summary of declaration and channelling requirements