Food imports refer to the movement of products into the EU from countries outside the EU (often referred to as Third Countries). Checks (controls) are carried out on food entering the EU market to ensure they meet the same requirements as foods from EU Member States.
Controls carried out on food and food contact materials imports include:
• documentary checks
• identity checks, and
• physical checks
Some foods are considered to pose a higher risk to public health, animal health, or the environment in terms of diseases, pests, or contaminants. Additional requirements are in place for these foods to control such risks.
The requirements include:
• additional documentation
• prior notification before arrival of the food into Ireland
These foods must enter Ireland through a specific entry point called a Border Control Post (BCP).
A Border Control Post is a designated entry point to the EU market through which consignments of food, food contact materials, animals, feed and plants that are subject to increased import controls must enter the EU. These import controls (checks) are carried out to protect animal and public health, and animal welfare.
Each Border Control Post, or BCP, is designated for performing the import controls on certain food types e.g., some BCP’s designated will inspect foods of non-animal origin and foods of animal origin, other BCP’s will inspect live animals. It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that their products are checked at a BCP that is designated for their product type.
A list of BCPs designated for animals, products of animal origin, composite products, germinal products, animal by-products, hay, and straw (per Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and Regulation (EU) 2017/625) is available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s website.
A list of BCPs designated for foods of non-animal origin can be found here on the FSAI website. These Border Controls Posts have been designated in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and meet the requirements for BCPs in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014.
Locations of Border Control Posts in Ireland
In Ireland, BCPs are usually located on or near Ports. The list of Irish BCP’s that check food products includes:
• Dublin Port
• Dublin Airport
• Rosslare Europort
• Shannon Airport
Other ports will accept plants, plant products and other products described in Regulation (EU) 2017/625. This list is available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s website.
It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that the products are checked at a BCP that is designated for their product type.