IPAFFS UK 2026 – How to Register Imports of Animals, Plants and Food

What is IPAFFS?

IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System) is a government IT system managed by APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) — an agency of DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). The system acts as a central pre-notification hub for all consignments subject to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls.

Before Brexit, UK importers used the EU's TRACES NT system (Trade Control and Expert System). After 1 January 2021 the UK implemented its own solution — IPAFFS — which took over TRACES functions for imports from outside the EU. Since BTOM Phase 2 (2024), IPAFFS is also mandatory for imports from EU countries.

Why is IPAFFS important for Polish exporters?

Poland is one of the largest food exporters in Europe — meat, dairy products, frozen vegetables, cereals, flowers. A significant portion of these products is exported to the United Kingdom. Every such consignment, since 30 April 2024, requires pre-notification in IPAFFS before leaving Poland/the EU.

Which goods require IPAFFS?

Goods subject to the IPAFFS requirement fall into several categories:

Category 1: Live animals

• cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses,
• poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks),
• companion animals (dogs, cats — require a separate entry under the PETS Travel Scheme),
• bees, silkworms,
• aquarium and zoo animals.

Category 2: Products of animal origin (POAO)

• meat and meat products (cold cuts, preserves),
• milk and dairy products (cheese, butter, yoghurt),
• eggs and egg products,
• honey and bee products,
• fish and seafood,
• gelatine and collagen,
• animal fats.

Category 3: Plants and plant products (PHC)

• live plants, seedlings, tubers,
• fruit and vegetables (phytosanitary certificate required),
• cereals and seeds,
• cut flowers,
• timber and wood-based materials (depending on species and processing).

Category 4: High-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)

• food from countries subject to enhanced controls (DEFRA list),
• animal feed from certain countries,
• dietary supplements and nutraceuticals (depending on composition).

How IPAFFS works — step-by-step procedure

Step 1: Register in the IPAFFS system

Importing through IPAFFS requires a GOV.UK account and an active GB EORI number. Registration in IPAFFS is free and takes a few minutes. You can delegate access to an agent (customs broker) who submits notifications on the importer's behalf.

Step 2: Submit the IPAFFS notification (CHED)

Before dispatching goods from Poland the importer (or their agent) must submit a CHED (Common Health Entry Document) in the IPAFFS system. There are three types of CHED:

A note on deadlines — this is the single most common IPAFFS misunderstanding. GOV.UK requires the notification to be submitted at least one working day before the consignment is expected to arrive at the point of entry — the same rule for live animals, products of animal origin, plants and HRFNAO. Legislation allows a derogation down to a minimum of 4 hours before arrival where logistical constraints prevent earlier pre-notification, but it is not automatic: the competent authority at the BCP / Port Health Authority grants it case by case for a specific consignment. A notification can be lodged up to 30 days in advance — in practice it is worth doing this at the loading-planning stage. We cover the individual document types in our article on CHED-P and CHED-PP — UK border controls for high-risk food.

Step 3: Health certificates required for IPAFFS

Each CHED notification must be supported by a health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of dispatch. For exports from Poland:

• Animal products: Veterinary Certificate issued by the Veterinary Inspection Service (District Veterinary Officer).
• Plants and plant products: Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service (PIORiN).
• Processed food: Health Certificate issued by the Sanitary Inspection Service (SANEPID) or the competent authority.

Certificates must be issued in accordance with the templates accepted by DEFRA/APHA — these are available in the IPAFFS database under a reference number for each country and goods category.

Step 4: BCP (Border Control Post) inspection

Upon arrival in the UK, goods are directed to a BCP (Border Control Post) — a designated border inspection point for SPS goods. BCPs operating in the UK include:

• Dover Cargo — for lorries crossing the English Channel (animal products, plants),
• Folkestone (Eurotunnel) — for vehicles using the tunnel,
• Felixstowe, Southampton, Tilbury — for sea containers,
• Heathrow — for air freight imports,
• Belfast and Larne — for Northern Ireland.

At the BCP an APHA inspector verifies the CHED from IPAFFS, checks the certificates and may order:

• Documentary check — verification of paperwork (100% of SPS consignments),
• Identity check — checking the goods match the documents (50% of consignments),
• Physical check — visual inspection, sample taking (1–30% depending on risk category).

Costs associated with IPAFFS and SPS checks

The UK's introduction of full SPS checks from 2024 means new charges for importers. DEFRA introduced a Common User Charge (CUC) — a fee for each SPS notification verified at a BCP:

• Products of animal origin (POAO): £10 per commodity line for low risk, £29 for medium and high risk (transit — £10),
• Plants and plant products: no charge for low risk and "medium risk B"; £29 per commodity line for "medium risk A" and high risk,
• High risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO): £29 per commodity line.

The charge applies to each commodity line in a CHED, capped at 5 lines — so the maximum for a single medium or high risk CHED is £145. The Common User Charge applies only to consignments entering through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel and handled at the government-run Sevington BCP; imports through other ports are charged according to the relevant Port Health Authority's own tariff. These rates have applied since 30 April 2024.

On top of this comes the import clearance cost at Easy Clearance: from £45 to £150. Indicative price range — exact quote after documents are submitted. The cost of health certificates (issued in Poland) depends on the issuing authority and the type of goods.

Common IPAFFS mistakes

1. Late notification — submitting the CHED after the lorry has left Poland, without a buffer for corrections.
2. Data discrepancy — differences between the CHED, veterinary certificate and commercial invoice (e.g. different weight, different batch).
3. Expired certificates — a certificate issued more than 10 days before arrival at a BCP may be rejected.
4. Missing notification for mixed consignments — a consignment containing both SPS and non-SPS goods requires IPAFFS for the entire shipment.
5. Wrong BCP — specifying the wrong inspection point on the CHED causes the consignment to be redirected.

Official sources

• GOV.UK — Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS)
• GOV.UK — Importing live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed to Great Britain (one working day deadline)
• GOV.UK — Import Information Note IIN GEN/1 (4-hour derogation for logistical constraints)
• GOV.UK — Common user charge: rates, eligibility and invoices

Notification deadlines and Common User Charge rates verified against gov.uk on 6 August 2026.

Related articles

• BTOM Phase 5 — UK border controls 2026
• UK import checklist — clearance documents