Updates to GB import controls

DEFRA have issued updated guidance to certification bodies for import into GB of certain products from Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Moldova, Turkey and China.

Turkey has now been added to a list of five existing countries, for which additional requirements have been in place for a number of years. They require additional verification and sampling in the country of export and additional documentation checks and sampling at the port of entry in GB. This also applies to product originating from one of these six countries but arriving in GB via another third country.

These controls apply to organic food and feed with the following CN codes:

1. Chapter 10 – Cereals
2. Chapter 11 – Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten. The following CN codes are excluded: CN codes 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, 1109.
3. Chapter 12 – Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder, except for processed products ready for human consumption derived from them. The following CN codes are excluded: CN codes 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214.
4. Chapter 23 – Residues and waste from the food industries, prepared animal fodder. The following CN codes are excluded: CN codes 2307.

China:

1. Chapter 10 – Cereals
2. Chapter 11 – Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten. The following CN codes are excluded: CN codes 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, 1109
3. Chapter 12 – Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder, except for processed products ready for human consumption derived from them. The following CN codes are excluded: CN codes 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214
4. Chapter 23 – Residues and waste from the food industries, prepared animal fodder. The following CN codes are excluded: CN codes 2307
5. CN code 0810 9075 – only Goji berries (Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense) and products processed from them.

If you import, or intend to import, any of these products, then you need to take the actions detailed in this document before using or selling the product with reference to organic.