Importing and exporting food
Introduction
Food businesses that import or export food are required to register as a food business denoting the importer/exporter activity on the food premises registration form.
Please see our web page on food premises registration:
There are different criteria to the importing of different foods, which Border Control post it can be entered into Great Britain (GB) and the documentation required.
For general information on importing and exporting food, please refer to:
Importers and exports will require a food hygiene inspection. If you are importing food into GB we will ask for a Common Health Entry Document (CHED), Export Health Certificate (EHC), invoices and sampling results depending on the food imported, to prove that certain foods have been imported into this country legally. All importers and exporters will be required to have a food safety management system, which includes food safety controls and monitoring in place, to meet food safety requirements.
Businesses that are selling food with an online shop may find the following guidance useful:
Shoreham Port and Shoreham Airport (Brighton City Airport) are located within Adur District Council but are not Border Control Posts. For information on border control posts location for different products, see:
Personal imports
A personal import is something you bring into the country for your own personal use. This includes food that is sent in the post from abroad and addressed to an individual in the UK. Only certain foods can be permitted as personal imports in terms of type of food, quantity and country of origin.
For information on which foods are permitted without restriction and with restrictions into Great Britain, see:
Businesses that are advertising on websites or social media sites selling food that they have imported as personal imports are not acting legally. Personal imports are foods that are for the consumption by the traveller and immediate family. Therefore, food premises registration will be required and these imports may need to be declared by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Reporting of illegally imported food
Food that has been imported illegally will not meet food safety requirements. This includes the following:
- it may be foods that are from plants or animals that are protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora),
- carry zoonotic diseases such as foot and mouth disease,
- premises that don't meet food safety requirements,
- and do not meet our food labelling requirements
To report an illegal importing operation:
- After clicking the link below you will need to register in order to submit your complaint.
- Once registered please click on 'Requests' - then select 'Food Hygiene Complaint or Enquiry'
Importing foods for sale
There are complex requirements on the import of foods for sale. This will depend on the type of food, country of origin and the manufacturer if the food can be imported in GB.
Please contact our service for more information:
- After clicking the link below you will need to register in order to submit your complaint.
- Once registered please click on 'Requests' - then select 'Food Hygiene Complaint or Enquiry'
Exporting foods for sale
Our department offers a limited service for businesses trading in the Adur and Worthing area that are exporting foods to the EU and the rest of the world. This service is dependent on officer availability.
Export health certificates
Our food competent certifying officers are authorised to sign export health certificates for fish and egg products only.
For other animal products certification is required by a veterinary officer or an official veterinarian (OV) authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), for further information, see:
- Animal Health and Plant Agency's Professionals who can certify export health certificates - on the GOV.UK website
- Exporting to Great Britain: approved countries for animals and animal products - on the GOV.UK website
Five working days notice is required from the exporter and payment within 24 hours within a working day prior to certificate issue is required.
Please find the correct export health certificate first via the GOV.UK EHC application portal:
If the export health certificate is not listed, please contact the competent authority in the destination country to find out what paperwork and rules you need to follow.
For details of the charges please see:
To enquire for officer availability, click here to submit a request complaint:
- After clicking the link below you will need to register in order to submit your complaint.
- Once registered please click on 'Requests' - then select 'Food Hygiene Complaint or Enquiry'
Once we have confirmed that an officer is available, please make payment via our online portal above.
If this is your first request please select:
- 'Requests' and then select 'First EHC/Food safety premises endorsement certificate'.
If this request is for a subsequent certificate, please select:
- 'Subsequent EHC/Food safety premises endorsement certificate'.
Food premises endorsement for export (PEE) Certificate
Some countries request a certificate of food safety endorsement which confirms that the food premises have been inspected and the goods are satisfactory to be exported.
These are for products of non-animal origin.
It is important when you submit your application that you insert a description that is acceptable to the importing company and authorities. The description should include all the products in the consignment.
For fees, request notice period and how to apply for a certificate of food safety premises endorsement, please refer to the export health certificates section.
Support attestation
This is an inspection for a certificate detailing that fishery product establishment has been inspected for the export of fishery products. The support attestation is forwarded with the consignment to the logistics hub for export via a border control post.
To enquire for officer availability, please refer to the export health certificate section.
Need assistance with this service?
Get in touch:
Environmental Health
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Page last updated: 20 February 2026