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OVS Notes

The Border Control Points (BCP) manual is supplemented by OVS Notes which contain details of changes to import controls for animals and products of animal origin. These notes supplement the standing instructions to inspection officers that are contained in the BCP manual. OVS notes are issued by Defra, Food Standard Agency (FSA) and APHA.

2024 OVS Notes

24/08 - Import of Dairy Products and Raw Milk that have undergone a lower treatment than pasteurisation for human consumption from the EU
Published 04 March 2024

24/07 - To clarify how trading partners have been advised by Defra to complete certain GB health certificates
Published 27 February 2024

24/06 - quarterly updates to the GB streamlined model export health certificates for animals and animal products
Published 27 February 2024

24/05 - Import fo Fishery Products from Establishments located in Faroe Islands and Greenland. Imports of ABPs from Establishments located in EU and EFTA States, Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Published 12 February 2024

24/04 - Import of permitted medium risk animal by-products from the EU
Published 01 February 2024

24/03 - EU HPAI Regionalisation
Published 27 January 2024

24/02 - Outbreak of African Swine Fever in Montenegro
Published 25 January 2024

24/01 - Vitamin D3 processed from Lanolin
Published 10 January 2024

2023 OVS Notes

23/21 - Imports of hay and straw from non-EU Countries
Published 04 December

23/20 - Quarterly updates to the GB streamlined model Export Heath Certificates for Animals and Animal Products.
Published 14 November 2023

23/19 - Agreed Procedure for the Certification of USA Origin Health Certificates.
Published 06 November 2023

23/18 - Establishment lists: updates to the Health Certificate Archive
Published 26 October 2023

23/17 - Border Control Posts Verification Checks and Checklist
Published 06 October 2023

23/16 - Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Chile
Published 05 October 2023

23/15 - New Streamlined GB Model Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and Risk Categorisation for Import of Animals and Animal Products into GB
Published 26 September 2023

23/14 - New Australian Government Seal
Published 22 September 2023

23/13 - Prohibitions and Restrictions for Meat Preparations - Imports from the EU
Published 22 September 2023

23/12 - Imports of Animal Products from Brazil
Published 18 July 2023

23/11 - Chronic Wasting Disease - Safeguard Measure
Published 23 June 2023

23/10 - Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Argentina
Published 06 June 2023

23/09 -  Foot and Mouth disease in Botswana – Lifting of restrictions
Published 24 May 2023

23/08 -  Revocation of Residue Control Plan Approval for Honey from Ghana
Published 02 May 2023

23/07 -  Changes to the minimum surveillance period for imports of poultry and poultry products from Avian Influenza affected countries
Published 20 March 2023

23/06 - Export Health Certificate:Updates to the Health Certificate archive
Published 20 March 2023

23/05 - Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Chile
Published 17 March 2023

23/04 - Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Argentina - replaced by 2023/10
Published 10 March 2023

23/03 - POAO from China and interpretation of REUL (Retained EU Law) 2002/994
Published 10 March 2023

23/02 - Export Health Certificate:Updates to the Health Certificate archive
Published 03 February 2023

23/01 - Export Health Certificate:Updates to the Health Certificate archive
Published 11 January 2023

2022 OVS Notes

22/27 - African Swine Fever control measures on bringing pork and pork products into Great Britain from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, LiechensteinThe Faroe Islands and Greenland
Published 13 December 2022

22/26 - Third Country lists for imports of animals and animal products now added to the health certificate archive
Published 12 December 2022

22/25 - Export Healt Certificates - Update to the Health Certificate Archive
Published 05 December 2022

22/24 - Avian Influenza cases in Japan
Published 01 November 2022

22/23 - Export Health Certificates: updated acceptance date
Published 01 November 2022

22/22 -Temporary approval for the use of packaging from Japan stating 2 establishment numbers
Published 31 October 2022

22/21 - Retained EU legislation on LEGISLATION.GOV.UK
Published 26 October 2022

22/20 -Lifting of restrictions in relation to imports of poultry products from Japan
Published 3 October 2022

22/19 - Model certificate accompanying consignments of products of animal origin, Germinal products, Animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products from Third Countries which are delivered to vessels leaving Great Britain, or NATO bases
Published 27 September 2022

22/18 - Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Botswana
Published 22 September 2022

22/17 - Outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Botswana
Published 02 September 2022

22/16 - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) status for Canada and Ireland
Published 10 August 2022

22/15 - Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in the USA and Canada
Published 01 August 2022

22/14 - Access to the list of approved establishments
Published 22 July 2022

22/13 - Changes to the way GB amendsThird Country lists for import of Animals and Animal products
Published 24 June 2022

22/12 - Withdrawal of Temporary Contingency Measures relating to Official Controls at Border Control Posts (BCPs) during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Published 23 June 2022

22/11 - Update - Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influienza in the USA and Canada
Published 1 June 2022

22/10 - Upcoming changes to the way GB amends Third Country lists for import of Animals and Animal Products
Published 1 June 2022

22/09 - Request for Information: List of offences under Trade in Animals and Animal Products Regulations 2011
Published 27 May 2022

22/08 - Update - Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the USA and Canada
Published 11 May 2022

22/07 - Update - Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in USA
Published 20 April 2022

22/06 - Outbreaks of Highly Pathigenic Avian Influenza in USA and Canada
Published 08 April 2022

22/05 - Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in USA and Canada
Published 1 April 2022

22/04 - Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Inflenza in USA and Canada
Published 18 March 2022

22/03 - Certification of Products of Animal Origin from Hong Kong
Published 01 March 2022

22/02- Lists of approved establishments
Published 13 January 2022

22/01 - Temporary Contingency Measures related to Official Controls which can be drawn on at Border Control Posts (BCP) During the COVID-19 outbreak and Allowing non-Official Veterinarians (non-OVs) to carry out ID and physical checks on some third country imports that are subject to official controls at Border Control Posts (BCPs) in Great Britain
Published 06 January 2022

2021 OVS Notes

21/14 - Import of Poultry and Poultry Products from Australia and Ukraine
Published 17 December 2021

21/13 - Amendment to Retained EU Regulation 798/2008 with respect to Japan
Published 26 November 2021

21/12 - New Health Certificate Archive Site
Published 25 November 2021

21/11 - HPAI outbreaks in Japan: Import restrictions for imports of fresh poultry meat
Published 16 November 2021

21/10 -Update on import conditions for hay and straw
Published 11 November 2021

21/09 - Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Botswana
Published 1 October 2021

21/08 - Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Botswana
Published 14 September 2021

21/07 - Temporary Contingency Measures related to Official Controls which can be drawn on at Border Control Posts (BCP) During the COVID-19 outbreak and Allowing non-Official Veterinarians (non-OVs) to carry out ID and physical checks on some third country imports that are subject to official controls at Border Control Posts (BCPs) in Great Britain
Published 20 August 2021

21/06 - Consignments accompanied by the new EU Animal Health Law model health certificates
Published 13 July 2021

21/05 - Grace period for use of EU certificates for imports for Non-EU countries
Published 25 June 2021

21/04 - Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian inflenza in Ukraine
Published 2 June 2021

21/03 - Grace Period for use of EU Certificates for Imports from Third Countries
Published 30 March 2021

21/02 - Temporary Contingency Measures related to Official Controls which can be drawn on at Border control Posts (BCPs) during the COVID-19 Pandemic and guidance.
Published 11 March 2021

21/01 - EU Exit Information
Published 12 January 2020

2020 OVS Notes

20/28 - COVID imports easements update
Published 31 December 2020

20/27 - EU Exit Information
Published 24 December 2020

20/26 - COVID Imports easements Update
Published 10 December 2020

20/25 - Approved Countries for the Import of Insects
Published 17 November 2020

20/24 - BCP Update Training day - Tuesday 1 December and Thursday 3 December 2020
Published 04 November 2020

  • Nomination form

20/23 - Change to certification for meat products and certain poultry commodities from the USA
Published 10 August 2020.

20/22 - Temporary Contingency Official Control Measure to be taken at Border Control Posts during the COVID-19 outbreak
Published 3 August 2020.

20/21 - Amendment to Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of residue monitoring plans
Published 31 July 2020.

20/20 - Temporary Official Control Measures to be taken at Border Control Posts during the COVID-19 outbreak
Published 29 June 2020

20/19 - Imports of honey from Third Countries - species of bee
Published 12 June 2020

20/18 - Changes to Import Authorisations for Insects into the European Union
Published 11 June 2020

20/17 - Temporary Contingency Official Control Measures to be taken at Border Control Posts during the Coronavirus Outbreak.
Published 01 June 2020

20/16 - TRACES-NT
Published 12 May 2020

20/15 - Newcastle disease in the Republic of North Macedonia

Published 12 May 2020

20/14 - Temporary Contingency Official Control Measures to be taken at Border Control Posts during the Coronavirus Outbreak.
Published 04 May 2020

20/13 - Temporary contingency official control measures to be taken at Border Control Post during the COVID-19 outbreak
Published 22 April 2020

20/12 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the USA
Published 22 April 2020

20/11 - COVID-19 outbreak - Contingency Plans - update
Published 30 March 2020

20/10 - COVID-19 outbreak - Contingency Plans
Published 26 March 2020

20/09 - Current Situation Relating to Imports of Poultry Meat from Russia
Published 17 March 2020

20/08 - Removal of South Africa from third country list for imports of fresh meat and meat products of ungulates.
Published 17 March 2020

20/07 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Ukraine
Published 06 March 2020.

20/05 - Guidance on the development of a training programme for Non-OVS staff in accordance with Delegated Regulation 2019/1081
Published 24 February 2020.

20/04 - Maximum number fo consignments to be checked by an OVS
Published 24 February 2020.

20/03 - Arrangements during the EU Exit Transition Period and clarification on the Official Controls Regulation (OCR) transhipment rules
Published 5 February 2020.

20/01 - Health certificates imported after December 14th
Published 23 January 2020.

2019 OVS Notes

19/10- Amendment to Regulations (EC) 136/2004 and 282/2004 as regards the model of common veterinary entry document (CVED)
Published 17 October 2019

19/09 - BIP update training day - 27 November 2019 - Complete the Nomination form and send to imports@apha.gov.uk
Published 22 August 2019

19/08 - Conversion rate and minimum harmonised charges for veterinary checks from EU Exit Day
Published: 22 July 2019

19/07- Approved US establishments for POAO
Published: 10 September 2019

19/06- Composite products and safeguard measures
Published: 10 September 2019

19/05 - Import of Chinese fishery products and Brazilian chicken
Published: 11 June 2019

19/04 - Maltese fishery product establishments
Published: 25 April 2019

19/03 - Residue Monitoring Plan
Published: 28 March 2019

19/02 - Guidance on the import of Leucine (E461)
Published: 04 March 2019

19/01 - Amendment to Decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of residue monitoring plans
Published: 16 January 2019

2018 OVS Notes

18/18 - Imports of Bivalve Molluscs, Echinoderms, Tunicates and Marine Gastropods for human consumption from the USA
Published: 16 November 2018

18/17 - Maximum number of consignments to be checked by an OVS
Published: 01 November 2018

18/16 - Amendments to Annexes I and II of Decision 2006/766/EC
Published: 24 October 2018

18/15 - Guidance on the import of Leucine
Published: 12 October 2018

18/14 - Harmonised charges for 2019
Published: 20 September 2018

18/13 - Maximum number of consignments to be checked by an OVS. All BIPs to complete the form.
Published: 15 August 2018

18/12 - Amendment to decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of residue monitoring plans
Published: 31 July 2018

18/11 - Third country lists for fishery products from Brazil
Published: 12 July 2018

18/10 - General licence and authorisation for imports of certain animal derived material for research amd diagnostic purposes
Published: 3 July 2018

18/09 - Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Russia
Published: 20 June 2018

18/08 - Imports of pearls in oyster shells (containing oyster flesh) which have been preserved in an alcohol and water solution and dispatched in sealed, ready to sell containers - change to general authorisation
Published: 24 May 2018

18/07 - Third country lists from Brazil
Published: 15 May 2018

18/06 - Changes to permitted treatments for imports of treated feathers into the UK
Published: 30 April 2018

18/05 - Audits of Border Inspection Posts (BIPs)
Published: 16 April 2018

18/04 - Amendment to decision 2011/163/EU on the approval of residue monitoring plans
Published: 19 February 2018

18/03 - not allocated

18/02 - Exports of Processed Animal Protein (Ruminant) to Third Countries
Published: 4 January 2018

18/01 - not allocated

2017 OVS Notes

OVS Note - 17/29
OVS Note - 17/28
OVS Note - 17/27
OVS Note - 17/26
OVS Note - 17/25
OVS Note - 17/24
OVS Note - 17/23
OVS Note - 17/22
OVS Note - 17/21
OVS Note - 17/20
OVS Note - 17/19
OVS Note - 17/18
OVS Note - 17/17
OVS Note - 17/16
OVS Note - 17/15
OVS Note - 17/14
OVS Note - 17/13
OVS Note - 17/12
OVS Note - 17/11
OVS Note - 17/10
OVS Note - 17/09
OVS Note - 17/08
OVS Note - 17/07
OVS Note - 17/06
OVS Note - 17/05
OVS Note - 17/04
OVS Note - 17/03
OVS Note - 17/02
OVS Note - 17/01

2016 OVS Notes

OVS Note - 2016/33
OVS Note - 2016/32
OVS Note - 2016/30
OVS Note - 2016/29
OVS Note - 2016/28
OVS Note - 2016/27
OVS Note - 2016/26
OVS Note - 2016/25
OVS Note - 2016/24
OVS Note - 2016/23
OVS Note - 2016/22
OVS Note - 2016/21
OVS Note - 2016/20
OVS Note - 2016/19
OVS Note - 2016/18
OVS Note - 2016/17
OVS Note - 2016/16
OVS Note - 2016/15
OVS Note - 2016/13
OVS Note - 2016/12
OVS Note - 2016/11
OVS Note - 2016/10
OVS Note - 2016/09
OVS Note - 2016/08
OVS Note - 2016/07
OVS Note - 2016/06
OVS Note - 2016/05
OVS Note - 2016/04
OVS Note - 2016/03
OVS Note - 2016/02
OVS Note - 2016/01

2015 OVS Notes

OVS Note - 2015/46
OVS Note - 2015/45
OVS Note - 2015/44
OVS Note - 2015/43
OVS Note - 2015/42
OVS Note - 2015/41
OVS Note - 2015/40
OVS Note - 2015/39
OVS Note - 2015/38
OVS Note - 2015/37
OVS Note - 2015/36
OVS Note - 2015/35
OVS Note - 2015/34
OVS Note - 2015/33
OVS Note - 2015/32
OVS Note - 2015/31
OVS Note - 2015/30
OVS Note - 2015/29
OVS Note - 2015/28
OVS Note - 2015/27
OVS Note - 2015/26
OVS Note - 2015/25
OVS Note - 2015/24
OVS Note - 2015/22
OVS Note - 2015/21
OVS Note - 2015/20
OVS Note - 2015/19
OVS Note - 2015/18
OVS Note - 2015/17
OVS Note - 2015/16
OVS Note - 2015/14
OVS Note - 2015/13
OVS Note - 2015/12
OVS Note - 2015/11
OVS Note - 2015/10
OVS Note - 2015/09
OVS Note - 2015/08
OVS Note - 2015/07
OVS Note - 2015/06
OVS Note - 2015/05
OVS Note - 2015/04
OVS Note - 2015/03
OVS Note - 2015/02
OVS Note - 2015/01

For OVS Notes prior to 2015, please see the archived web page on the National Archives website.

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