IPAFFS
In brief: IPAFFS — the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System — is the UK government system used to pre-notify the authorities before certain goods arrive in Great Britain: live animals, products of animal origin, animal by-products, plants and plant products, and high-risk food and feed. If your consignment needs an IPAFFS pre-notification, Courier Express can complete it for you as part of your import clearance. Call the International team on 01273 426 168.
By the Courier Express customs team · Last reviewed 29 September 2026 · General information, not legal advice — always check current GOV.UK guidance for your goods.
What is IPAFFS?
IPAFFS is the online system used to tell the UK authorities, in advance, that certain sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods are on their way into Great Britain. The pre-notification creates a Common Health Entry Document (CHED) reference that links your consignment to the health and biosecurity controls that apply under the UK’s Border Target Operating Model.
It applies to imports into England, Scotland and Wales. Movements into Northern Ireland follow separate arrangements.
Which goods need an IPAFFS pre-notification?
- Live animals and germinal products.
- Products of animal origin — meat, dairy, fish, eggs, honey and many composite foods.
- Animal by-products not intended for human consumption.
- Plants and plant products — including many fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, seeds and timber.
- High-risk food and feed of non-animal origin.
Whether a specific consignment needs pre-notification — and what certificates and checks apply — depends on the commodity code and the risk category (high, medium or low) assigned to the goods. Low-risk goods may not need routine pre-notification, so it always pays to check the current official lists before the goods travel.
How the process works
1. Classify the goods and confirm their risk category — the commodity code drives everything, just as it does for duty.
2. Make sure the importer is registered — using IPAFFS needs a Government Gateway account linked to a GB EORI number.
3. Create the pre-notification in IPAFFS before the goods arrive. Deadlines vary by commodity — commonly at least one working day before arrival — so build it into the transport plan.
4. Pass the CHED reference to whoever completes the customs declaration, so the notification and the declaration match.
5. Depending on risk category, the consignment may be selected for documentary, identity or physical checks at a Border Control Post — allow for this in delivery promises.
What you’ll need to hand
- Commodity codes and a clear description of the goods.
- Quantities, net weights and country of origin.
- Producer or establishment details for the goods.
- Health certificates or phytosanitary certificates, where the risk category requires them.
- Arrival details — port or Border Control Post, date and estimated time.
- The importer’s GB EORI number.
What happens if it’s missed or wrong?
Consignments arriving without a required pre-notification can be held at the border, called for inspection, or refused entry — which usually means delay, storage costs and unhappy customers at both ends. Getting the notification right, early, is far cheaper than fixing it at the port.
We’ll handle IPAFFS for you
Our customs team completes IPAFFS pre-notifications as part of your import clearance — classification checked, notification submitted before the goods travel, CHED reference passed to the declaration, and the transport plan built around any border checks. One team for the truck and the paperwork.
IPAFFS questions, answered
Do all food imports need IPAFFS?
No — it depends on the commodity code and the risk category of the goods. Many products of animal origin and plant products do; some low-risk goods don’t need routine pre-notification. We’ll confirm for your specific products before anything moves.
When should the notification be submitted?
Before the goods arrive in Great Britain — deadlines vary by commodity, and commonly it’s at least one working day before arrival. We advise shipment by shipment and submit in good time.
Can Courier Express submit IPAFFS for us?
Yes — we complete IPAFFS pre-notifications as part of your import clearance. You provide the product, supplier and certificate details; we handle the notification and make sure the CHED reference reaches the customs declaration.
What is a CHED?
The Common Health Entry Document — the record your pre-notification creates. Its reference number goes on the customs declaration and travels with the consignment paperwork.
Does IPAFFS apply to exports?
No — IPAFFS is for imports into Great Britain. Exports are governed by the destination country’s requirements, such as export health or phytosanitary certificates — our team can advise on those too.
Importing SPS goods?
Tell us what’s moving and when — we’ll confirm exactly what’s needed, IPAFFS included, before the goods travel.
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