Bringing Specified Animal Pathogens into GB

We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Find out about the licences you need and rules you must follow to import Specified Animal Pathogens into England, Scotland and Wales. Get emails about this page Print this page Specified Pathogens are viruses and other infectious agents that must be controlled and contained to prevent their release or escape into the environment. If Specified Pathogens are released, they can cause serious animal or human disease. A full list of these pathogens can be found in the relevant Specified Animal Pathogens Order: If you need to import a pathogen or carrier not covered by SAPO legislation, check Importing known animal pathogens or carriers not covered by the Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) into GB Before you can import Specified Animal Pathogens into England, Scotland or Wales, you must have a valid Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) licence. SAPO licences are issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Once you have a valid SAPO licence, follow these steps before you import your consignment. For more information on importing animal pathogens into Northern Ireland . Use these licences to import Specified Animal Pathogens to England, Scotland and Wales from any country. Choose the licence you need based on the planned port of entry, not the destination you’re shipping to. For example, if you’re importing to a Scottish laboratory but your consignment will enter the UK at Heathrow Airport, use the English general licence. You must comply with all the conditions on the general licence. For more information on using theses licences, contact the APHA imports team: Telephone: 03000 200 301 Email: imports@apha.gov.uk You can move imported Specified Animal Pathogens to another SAPO licensed laboratory after they arrive in the UK. The laboratory must be approved to handle and store the pathogen concerned. You do not need a transfer licence to move these pathogens - but they must be suitably packaged. Updated copies of Specified Animal Pathogens general licences. All general licence attachments updated to add references regarding EU legislation now being assimilated in GB law as defined under the Retained EU Law (revocation and Reform) Act 2023. Get emails about this page Print this page Contents Is this page useful? Maybe Yes this page is useful No this page is not useful Thank you for your feedback Report a problem with this page Help us improve GOV.UK Do not include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab and requires JavaScript ) .