The law

The BIP for POAO has been established at Stansted Airport to comply with the provisions of EU requirements. The principal directives are Directive 97/78/EC and Regulation 136/2004/EC. The Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2006 implement these Directives in the UK.

POAO that have arrived from countries that are not members of the EU (apart from Norway, Switzerland and Iceland) are required to be cleared through the BIP. This also applies to products that are destined for EU countries other than the UK, and to goods being off-loaded from an aircraft whilst in transhipment / transit through Stansted Airport.

The position regarding imports of POAO from Norway, Switzerland and Iceland is as follows : –

Norway, Switzerland: intra-community trade rules apply, as for single market trade, to all imports. POAO do not have to be checked on entry at the BIP.

Iceland: intra-community trade rules apply, as for single market trade, to fish, fishery products, aquaculture products and processed animal protein. All other POAO are subject to third country veterinary check arrangements and must be cleared through the BIP.

The BIP at Stansted Airport has been approved to deal with:

• Packaged animal products for human consumption imported at ambient temperatures.
• Packaged animals products not intended for human consumption imported at ambient temperatures.

Other POAO from outside the EU must not be imported at Stansted Airport.