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Marketing non-authorised feed additives or non-compliant feedstuffs to other countries

Requirements on how to market non-authorised feed additives, non-compliant premixtures or animal feed from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to other countries.

Non-authorised feed additives or feed containing feed additives which are not compliant with the legislation of Great Britain (GB) or Northern Ireland (NI) may be marketed within the EU and other non-EU (third) countries if certain requirements are met.

Such non-compliant feed may include feed additives:

  • which are not authorised in Great Britain or Northern Ireland
  • which are authorised but have been incorporated into premixtures or feed which are not compliant with the national legislation. For example, feed additives incorporated at levels above maximum permitted limits or feed intended for animal species outside the scope of the feed additive authorisation.

Requirements for feed businesses to export feedstuffs are in accordance with retained EU Regulation 178/2002 (Article 12). 

The conditions set out below will also apply to feedstuffs sourced from the EU or other third country which are non-compliant with the national legislation of GB or NI.

Export of non-authorised feed additives or non-compliant feedstuffs to non-EU countries

The requirements for such exports to non-EU countries are the same when originating from either Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Non-authorised feed additives or feed containing feed additives which are not compliant within Great Britain or Northern Ireland can be exported to countries if:

  • they comply with the legislation of the destination country
  • the feed is safe and is expressly permitted by the competent authority of the destination country

Marketing non-authorised feed additives or non-compliant feedstuffs to EU countries

For the transfer of goods to the EU, the following conditions apply:

  • From GB to EU member states, the export conditions of non-EU country exports outlined above still apply
  • From NI to EU member states, the movement of goods under existing EU legislation continue to apply and does not constitute an export of goods. In addition, non-authorised feed additives or non-compliant feedstuffs which enter Northern Ireland may not be shipped to EU member states, unless there is no transfer of ownership (e.g. within the same company located in different countries).

Actions for feed businesses

Feed that is safe, but still does not comply with the relevant feed laws in the exporting country (i.e. the applicable laws in GB or NI), can still be exported if the feed business ensures that:

  • the feedstuff complies with the laws and conditions of the importing (destination) country, or
  • express permission is granted by the Competent Authority of the destination country having been informed of the reason(s) why it cannot be placed on the market of the exporting country
  • evidence must be retained to demonstrate the above conditions are met to satisfy UK enforcement authorities should the need arise

For exports from GB destined for the EU, third country representation for animal feed businesses may be required prior to shipment (i.e. a feed business located in the EU). Please establish with the importing (destination) EU country on their national rules whether third country representation is required for the specific product you intend to export from GB. Third country representation is not applicable for the movement of goods between NI and EU member states.

Notifying the FSA

If non-authorised feed additives or non-compliant feeds are exported from the UK (GB or NI), let us know the following:

  1. Details of the product:
  • name and type of product - including details of non-authorised feed additive(s)
  • batch number
  • quantity
  1. Details of movement of goods:
  • date of despatch
  • point(s) of exit from the UK
  • country of destination outside the UK (third country)
  1. Details of the establishment in the destination country (including EU member states from GB) that receives your product:
  • business name
  • contact name
  • address
  • telephone number
  • email address

These details should be sent to: feeddelivery@food.gov.uk

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate should be contacted regarding the export of non-authorised specified feed additives.

Northern Ireland

Information for all exports of unauthorised feed additives can be found on the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) website.