Imported food and enforcement

Local authorities and port health authorities are responsible for the enforcement of food safety and food standard controls on food products. The Horticultural Marketing inspectorate of the Rural Payments agency are responsible for enforcing Community Marketing rules on fresh fruit and vegetables. 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.

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  • Guidance and Regulatory Advice on Import Legislation (GRAIL) database

    Thursday 3 April 2008

    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 booklet: Working together on imported food

    Monday 15 October 2007

    A guidance booklet for local authorities on imported food regulation has been published by the Food Standards Agency.

  • Imported food leaflet for traders

    Sunday 2 April 2006

    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.

  • Inland enforcement of imported feed and food controls: Resource pack

    Monday 22 October 2012

    The local authority resource pack on import controls has been completely revised to focus on the important role that inland authorities have in monitoring imported feed and food and ensuring that imported food is safe to eat.

  • Official Feed and Food Controls regulation: Guidance for enforcement authorities

    Tuesday 18 May 2010

    Q&A notes for enforcement authorities on the new EU Regulation on official feed and food controls (882/2004).

  • Border Inspection Post manual and Official Veterinary Surgeons Notes

    Thursday 4 May 2006

    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.

  • Foodstuffs with current EU restrictions

    Monday 24 October 2011

    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.

  • European Commission guidance on imports

    Monday 10 October 2005

    European Commission guidance and interpretation of the rules on hygiene of foodstuffs that came into force on 1 January 2006 is available.

  • Roles and responsibilities of Government authorities

    Wednesday 28 December 2011

    Roles and responsibilities of Government organisations with an interest in imported food.

  • Audit of food law enforcement controls of imported food not of animal origin

    Monday 11 July 2011

    The Food Standards 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 (and, where relevant, imported feed).

  • FVO report on imported food and feed controls published

    Thursday 31 May 2007

    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.

  • Guidance on effective imported food control

    Thursday 3 November 2011

    The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today published guidance on effective imported food control for local authority food services. 'Effective imported food control' draws on experience gained from the Agency's programme of auditing local authority imported food services

  • Import controls at smaller seaports and airports guidance

    Thursday 13 December 2012

    A UK manual on the import controls for food and feed of non-animal origin at small ports and airports is available. The guidance is for port health local and enforcement authorities, and has been developed by the Food Standards Agency and the Association of Port Health Authorities.

  • Import of food from third countries: guidance for food authorities

    Friday 10 March 2006

    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 and Feed Working Group (IFFWG)

    Wednesday 28 December 2011

    The Imported Food and Feed Working Group (IFFWG) is a forum for enforcement experts to meet and discuss issues around the enforcement of imported food and feed law.

  • Imported food sampling and surveillance grants

    Wednesday 8 August 2012

    The Food Standards Agency has been working with local authorities across the UK to improve the controls over imported foods entering the country.

  • List of Enhanced Remote Transit Sheds (ERTS) in the UK

    Wednesday 4 July 2012

    An Enhanced Remote Transit Shed (ERTS) is a warehouse designated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), where goods are temporarily stored pending clearance by HMRC, and prior to release into free circulation.