Which non-animal products are screened by Port Health?
Port Health is responsible for protecting the public and environmental health of the UK. To do this, animal products, plants, and non-animal originating food and feed are all screened during the import clearance process.
Apart from whole plants, fruits, and vegetables, some examples of non-animal products which are examined by Port Health are:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Herbs and spices
- Tea and coffee
- Foodstuffs made using controlled products, such as nut butters, confectionary, and seed oils.
The level of checks required by Port Health depends on the risk that the products present, which is determined by the goods classification, the country of origin, and whether the purpose is for animal or human consumption.
Note that foodstuffs made from multiple ingredients also carry the risk that only one of those ingredients needs to be prohibited for the consignment to be rejected. This includes every additive and E number used.
What are some of the health risks posed by Port Health controlled food and feed of non-animal origin?
Although non-animal products do not contain animals or animal meat, the risk to health is still serious – especially when the products could be distributed to a wide area.
For example, a single consignment of fruits contaminated with Listeria could be delivered to a packaging plant before distributing across the country. Listeria causes food poisoning, and the fruits do not necessarily need to be ingested for a person to get infected. People handling the fruit can touch other foods or surfaces which can also transmit the bacteria.
Other examples of risks to health present in non-animal foods and feed are:
- Aflatoxins in nuts
- Other disease-causing bacteria, such as salmonella in peppers, fruits, seeds, and leaves
- Pesticide residues in many plant products
- Mycotoxins, such as Ochratoxin A in rice
- Dyes and tracer components, such as Rhodamine B
- Cyanide
- Sulphites
To protect both human and animal consumers from these risks, Port Health require the submission of test results or health certificates for many non-animal-originating products.
From the 7th of March, Port Health are changing the regulations surrounding food and feed of non-animal origin
Since Brexit, the UK Government has been revising the way that the border controls imports of Port Health controlled products. Following consultation with the industry, new changes will be in effect from the 7th of March for food and feed products of non-animal origin.
To help monitor the transition into these new rules, there are temporary increases to the number of consignments examined upon entry into the UK. This increase is by percentage of shipments by commodity and origin, and not as a whole.
If your goods currently require a CHED-D during import clearance, then your shipments may be subject to changed regulations or affected by higher examination rates.
If you need advice on importing feed and food products of non-animal origin into the UK, contact us for more information.
