As of 27 March 2025, the UK government has extended its Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) import restrictions to Austria, following a confirmed case near the Hungarian-Austrian border. These restrictions were already in place for products coming from Hungary, Slovakia and Germany.
This update is particularly relevant for those of us working in international food logistics, especially when it comes to groupage shipments and temperature-controlled transport to Great Britain.
Let’s break down what’s changing — and what steps you can take to prevent customs delays.
What do the new restrictions involve?
Starting 27 March 2025, the following products can no longer be imported into the UK from FMD-risk countries (including Austria):
- hay and straw;
- fresh meat (chilled or frozen) from ruminants and pigs;
- meat products that have not undergone approved thermal treatments (D1, D, C, or B);
- milk, colostrum and dairy products not treated as required by EU Regulation 2010/605
Groupage and customs checks: how to avoid delays
As often happens in sanitary alert situations, the most immediate impact is felt at the border.
UK authorities are reporting frequent blocks due to inconsistencies in documentation, especially in groupage shipments.
1. All CHEDs must be valid
In groupage transport, even a single CHED (Common Health Entry Document) under verification can cause the entire shipment to be held.
Always check the status of CHEDs in IPAFFS and CDS, and consult with the Port Health Authority about the possibility of physically separating consignments or submitting a new customs declaration.
2. One consignment cancelled? CDS must be updated too
If a part of the load is removed before arriving in the UK and its CHED is cancelled, it is crucial to update the customs declaration in CDS.
Otherwise, the shipment may remain blocked.
3. Pay attention to details: consistency between CHED and declaration
Even when all CHEDs are validated, minor discrepancies can still cause delays, such as:
- Final destinations not recognised as “GB” in the system
- Incorrect or missing CHED references
- Inconsistent commodity codes
- Non-English characters pasted into IPAFFS fields
Where to find official information
To learn more about UK regulations or to check product-specific import requirements, here are useful official links from the UK government:
- Animal products for human consumption (from the EU)
- High-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)
- Plants and plant products (from the EU)
- Food products and HRFNAO from non-EU countries
- UK Plant Health Information Portal
Our daily commitment
In today’s increasingly complex regulatory landscape — especially for those exporting perishable, temperature-sensitive food products — staying informed isn’t just a necessity.
It’s part of the quality we deliver every day.
We closely monitor regulatory changes and work alongside customs and health authorities to protect your goods and reduce the risk of delays or disruptions.
For operational questions or support with shipments to the UK, feel free to contact us:
📩 dogana@freshways.it
