Imported food resources for enforcement authorities
Local authorities and port health authorities are responsible for the enforcement of food safety and food standards import controls on food products. Guidance and resources for these and other enforcement authorities are available.
Port health authorities are local authority bodies at seaports set up under (DH legislation) the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984. At UK airports and some seaports, the local authority in whose area the port is located is responsible for enforcing the food import controls.
Outside of port areas, local authorities ('inland' local authorities) are responsible for enforcing food safety controls on foodstuffs including imported food.
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) took over responsibility, in April 2003, for anti-smuggling activity in Customs-controlled areas in seaports, airports, and Customs' licensed warehouses. Customs also carry out checks on personal imports for illegal foodstuffs.
Further information on the roles and responsibilities of Government authorities with an interest in imported food can be found at the link below.
Advice on importing food commercially into the UK and bringing food into the country for personal use can be found at the links below.
Find out more
Guidance and Regulatory Advice on Import Legislation (GRAIL) database
GRAIL is a searchable database of up-to-date imported food legislation and guidance on those products which the Food Standards Agency has lead responsibility. These are the import of products of non-animal origin and fish and fishery products from non-European Union (EU) countries.
Imported food sampling and surveillance grants
The Food Standards Agency has been working with local authorities across the UK to improve the controls over imported foods entering the country.
Imported food leaflet for traders
A leaflet detailing the import controls in place for food entering the UK from non-European Union countries is available. The leaflet is targeted primarily at trade organisations, but for use by local authorities to disseminate to industry.
Resource pack: guidance on local authority enforcement
Agency Guidance on imported food controls for food law enforcement officers in England has been updated to take account of changes in legislation.
EU Official Feed and Food Controls regulation: Guidance for enforcement authorities
Q&A notes for enforcement authorities on the new EU Regulation on official feed and food controls (882/2004).
European Commission guidance on imports
European Commission guidance and interpretation of the new rules on hygiene of foodstuffs coming into force on 1 January 2006 is available.
Guidance on procedures for importing live animals and animal products into the EU
This document provides guidance to the national authorities in third countries who are interested in exporting live animals and animal products into the European Union. It describes the general principles governing these imports and lists the main relevant legislation.
Border Inspection Post manual and Official Veterinary Surgeons Notes
The Border Inspection Post (BIP) manual and Official Veterinary Surgeons (OVS) Notes are available electronically through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website. They contain enforcement advice on import conditions for products of animal origin.
Port Health Good Practice Guides: Introductory Guide
The introductory guide was developed to complement the good practice guides developed by the sea-ports in the report, Benchmarking the Port Health Function, working with the Syniad Benchmarking Centre in 2002.
Benchmarking the port health function
The report 'Benchmarking the Port Health Function' was produced by Syniad Benchmarking Centre with the support of the FSA and APHA and participating local authorities and port health authorities. Syniad is the Improvement and Development arm of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).
Imported food audits
The Agency has carried out a programme of focused audits of local authorities and port health authorities, which looked specifically at their arrangements for controls on imported food of non-animal origin.
Foodstuffs with current EU restrictions
Specific products not of animal origin are currently under harmonised controls in the European Union (EU) that control their importation from specific non-EU countries.
Step Change success criteria
The Step Change is a cross-government initiative, led by the FSA. It aims to improve the co-ordination and delivery of local authority inspection of foods and products of animal origin at seaports and airports. Ministers agreed a number of success criteria, against which the delivery of the project would be assessed after its first year (to end March 2004).
Questionnaire on Imported Food Control Enforcement Activity 2007/08
The Food Standards Agency is gathering information from local authorities and port health authorities to help measure progress on the improvement in imported food controls. All local authorities and port health authorities are being asked to complete the annual questionnaire requesting information on the enforcement of imported food controls.
Roles and responsibilities of Government authorities
Roles and responsibilities of Government organisations with an interest in imported food.
FVO report on imported food and feed controls published
In November 2006, the Agency was evaluated by the European Union’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) on the implementation and enforcement of non-animal origin imported food and feed controls in the UK. The report is now available.
Import of food from third countries: guidance for food authorities
The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance for the import of food from third countries (non-European Union countries) for enforcement officers at ports and inland local authorities.
Imported food sampling and surveillance grants
The Food Standards Agency has been working with local authorities across the UK to improve the controls over imported foods entering the country.