ARCHIVE: International trade - Imports policy
The International Animal Health Division in Defra has responsibility in England for imports policy. We negotiate import rules for the UK in the European Union (EU) and set national rules where no EU conditions are in place. We also carry out international disease surveillance work and take emergency safeguard action to restrict or ban imports from countries which have reported an outbreak of disease.
Imports into the European Community are generally controlled by EU wide import conditions. Trade between Member States in the EU is also controlled by EU law that harmonises conditions to allow free trade.
In England the import and EU trade controls are enforced by Animal Health and Local Authorities including Port Health Authorities and Local Government Trading Standards, and Environmental Health.
Further information on the Devolved Administrations is available on their websites:
Page last modified:
September 7, 2009