Import and Export of Animal by-products (ABPs)

In order to correctly classify the substance you wish to transport, please contact the UCL Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (dangerousgoods@ucl.ac.uk).

What are animal by-products (ABPs)?

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Animal by-products (ABPs) are animal carcasses, parts of animals, or other materials which come from animals but are not meant for humans to eat. In a research context, this can include:

• Reagents derived from animals such as foetal bovine serum.
• Cell lines containing an animal by-product as a carrier / stabiliser
• Blood, bodily fluids and tissues from animals not slaughtered for human consumption
• Milk, eggs, gelatine and collagen

Import and Export of ABPs

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Import and export are regulated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Users of animal by-products must have approval to do so and UCL has an institutional licence in place. Contact the Biological and Chemical Safety team for further information.

The following should be considered for any activity involving the import or export of animal by-products:

• ABPs are categorised in either high-risk or low-risk categories. You must get pre-authorisation from DEFRA if importing products of categories 1 and 2 (high risk) or processed animal protein in category 3. If you order animal by-products from a reputable supplier, such that they are confirmed pathogen-free, or unlikely to be infected with an animal pathogen, a specific licence is normally not required. However, you should always check this with the supplier or courier company.
• If you wish to import animal by-products from other sources where the status is unconfirmed (e.g. from collaborators), a licence is likely to be required, depending on the nature of the material and point of origin.
• When importing from EU countries and other specific countries outside the EU, you can likely import under the Research Licensing Regime. This allows for general import licences to be downloaded and used, instead of making an individual application for a licence. Many different and specific general licences are available. Please contact Safety Services for further advice. 
• If an animal by-product is not covered by a general licence, you must apply for an Animal Health Import Licence using an IV58 form and the associated guidance notes (IV58 and guidance)[LINK]. Applications using the IV58 form must be submitted to Safety Services once completed by the department.
• Note that processing of the Import Licence by the regulator can take up to 15 working days (3 weeks) from receipt.