Imported foods
Importing food and feed via Manchester airport
When you import food or animal feed commercially, you need to know about regulations that apply to specific products and also more general rules about things such as labelling and additives. Failure to comply with UK and EU hygiene and safety rules could cause delay in shipments, increase costs and require action to be taken by enforcement authorities.
The main types of food that are imported through Manchester Airport are fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. They are highly perishable products and are transported by airfreight to ensure that they remain fresh and marketable when they reach their final destination.
This information is intended for importers who want to import products of animal origin (POAO) and certain non-animal origin (NAO) goods which originate or are dispatched from a non-EU country, into the UK or other EU state via Manchester Airport .
There are also restrictions governing the import of POAO and NAO items which are not used as food, but for other purposes. Most animal and some vegetable products fall within the scope of the checks
All food, whether products of POAO or NAO, which is described as Organic, must be cleared by us if the organic status is required to be maintained, before it can be cleared by Customs and released.
Fish and fishery products imported into the EU from a non- EU country are subject to additional checks under the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Regulations (IUU).
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing depletes fish stocks, destroys marine habitats, distorts competition, puts honest fishers at an unfair disadvantage, and weakens coastal communities, particularly in developing countries.
The EU is working hard to close the loopholes that allow illegal operators to profit from their activities:
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Since 1 January 2010 only marine fisheries products validated as legal by the relevant flag state or exporting state can be imported to or exported from the EU.
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A European black list has been drawn up covering both IUU vessels and states that turn a blind eye to illegal fishing activities.
What can you do
- familiarise yourself with the FSA rules for importing food;
- be aware of the legislation for the import of 'high-risk' products of non-animal origin (Regulation (EC) No 669/2009, as amended) and non-animal origin products contaminated by aflatoxins (Regulation (EC) No 1152/2009);
- familiarise yourself with the IUU requirements.
What can we do
- we offer a prompt service for importers of the specified products and produce through Manchester Airport subject to you as importer or your agent submitting the correct documentation;
Links
Contents of Imported foods
- Importing food and feed via Manchester airport (this page)
- Importing products of animal origin (POAO)
- Imported non animal origin food (NAO)
