The Products of Animal Origin (Import and Export) Regulations 1996

Import procedure

21.—(1) No person shall import any product of animal origin (except fishery products or live bivalve molluscs or other shellfish) unless he has given to either the official veterinary surgeon at the border inspection post or the Minister the following periods of advance notice of arrival—

(a) for consignments arriving by air, at least six hours, given during the working day of the border inspection post;

(b) in any other case, at least one working day of the border inspection post.

(2) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) above shall be in accordance with Article 4(4) of Directive 90/675.

(3) No person shall remove any product of animal origin to which this regulation applies from customs temporary storage arrangements except as provided for in regulation 22(2), 24 or 25 unless there has been provided to the Customs and Excise—

(a) the certificate signed by the official veterinary surgeon and issued under Article 10(1), second indent, of Directive 90/675 that the veterinary checks (or, in the case of Articles 8(4) and 11(2)(b) of that directive dealing with deferred checks, or Article 12 of that directive dealing with the transit of products from one third country to another, the checks specified in those articles) have been carried out on the products in question in accordance with Articles 4 and 8 of that directive to his satisfaction; and

(b) proof that those checks have been paid for, and that, where relevant, a deposit covering any costs provided for in Article 16(3) of that directive has been lodged with the local authority.

(4) The official veterinary surgeon shall ensure that all checks required by Directive 90/675 are carried out to his satisfaction, either by him or under his supervision, before he signs the certificate required under paragraph (3) above.

(5) Before authorising the release of any products, the official veterinary surgeon shall, in cases where there is a doubt whether such product should be released, consult the appropriate Divisional Veterinary Manager, and following such consultation, shall take no further action without first informing him.