Jun 28th, 2023
2 mins
On 28th April, Defra published detail of the Target Operating Model (TOM) risk categories for imports of animals/animal products into GB from the EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states.
The TOM categorises live animals, germinal products, products of animal origin (POAO) and animal by-products (ABPs) as high risk, medium risk, or low risk. Each category has different requirements and from 31 October 2023 you will need to follow the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules for whichever import risk category the products fall into.
Detail of the risk categories can be found here and now includes a searchable spreadsheet (‘TOM risk categories for animal and animal product imports from the EU to Great Britain: searchable list with commodity codes’), where you can find the risk category for the specific commodity you’re importing. Searches can be carried out using a 10-digit commodity code or by browsing a list of commodities.
Note: Risk factors will be reviewed regularly, and commodities may be moved into higher or lower TOM risk categories in future to reflect changing levels of risk.
TOM risk categories for imports of animals and animal products from non-EU countries are due to be published in summer 2023.
