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Animal and Plant Health Agency gov.uk

Export or move livestock and poultry

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This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) exporting or moving livestock (sheep, cattle, pigs and goats) and poultry to, or through:

You need an export health certificate (EHC) to export or move livestock and poultry.

Follow the rules in this guidance to find out what you need to do.

You need to follow different guidance for:

Some countries have their own import rules for livestock and poultry. You can check by talking to your importer or getting help researching your export market.

You must be a member of the Poultry Health Scheme to export or move poultry:

  • to the EU or Northern Ireland (unless you’re exporting 20 birds or hatching eggs or less)
  • to non EU countries - your EHC will say if you need to join the scheme

    • Residency rules for livestock and poultry

    Check the EHC you’re applying for to find out how long livestock and poultry must be held at the premises of origin before export to a non-EU country.

    Cattle, sheep and pigs must be held at the premises of origin for 40 days before you export or move them to the EU or Northern Ireland.

    Export or move livestock and poultry to the EU or Northern Ireland

  • export livestock and poultry from Great Britain to the EU
  • move livestock and poultry from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
  • transit through the EU and Northern Ireland
  • get your goods checked at an EU border control post (BCP) or Northern Ireland point of entry in the first country you enter
  • make sure your EU or Northern Ireland-based import agent has notified the BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry that your consignment is arriving - check with the BCP or Northern Ireland point of entry for how much notice needs to be given
  • follow rules on identifying animals, if you want to export or move them to the EU or Northern Ireland

    • Check the EHC finder to see if a certificate exists for your animal.

    If you find an EHC, follow the EHC process to export.

    This is an extract. The publication continues at the source.

    Read the original at the source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-or-move-livestock-and-poultry

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    Provenance

    Organization
    Animal and Plant Health Agency — imported from official source
    Official source
    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency.atom ATOM
    Imported
    September 22, 2026 10:00
    Versions
    1 recorded
    Identity
    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-or-move-livestock-and-poultry#2026-09-22T09:00:01Z

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