Statutory guidance

Import of hatching eggs and day-old chicks - Import Information Note (IIN) EGHE/2

Published 2 December 2024

1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of live animals and germplasm, which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more. 

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU Legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the United Kingdom (UK) legislation website. 

2. Scope 

Import conditions for hatching eggs and day-old chicks. 

“Poultry” is defined in Regulation (EC) 798/2008 as fowls, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and ratites reared or kept in captivity for breeding, the production of meat or eggs for consumption or for restocking supplies of game. 

“Hatching eggs” are defined as eggs for incubation laid by poultry. 

“Day-old chicks” are defined as all poultry that are less than 72 hours old, not fed. However muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) or their crosses may be fed. 

Regulation (EC) 798/2008, and this IIN, do not apply to the importation of poultry for exhibitions, shows or contests. Poultry for exhibition, show or contest must meet the requirements for captive birds, as detailed in IIN CBTC/2. 

3. Country of origin 

Imports are permitted from trading partners listed in documents published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers. See the documents for poultry and poultry products for:

• non-EU countries
• EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries

Trading partners must have DOC, DOR, HEP, HER or LT20 listed in column 4 of the above documents in order to be able to export hatching eggs and day-old chicks to Great Britain (GB), where:

• ‘DOC’ is for day-old chicks other than of ratites
• ‘DOR’ is for day-old chicks of ratites
• ‘HEP’ is for hatching eggs of poultry other than ratites
• ‘HER’ is for hatching eggs of ratites
• ‘LT20’ is for single consignments of less than 20 units of poultry other than ratites, hatching eggs and day-old chicks thereof

Certain countries may be required to provide supplementary guarantees, depending on the animal health situation in the territories of origin. Please also check the 5th and 6th columns (including columns 6a and 6b) of the above documents, where these supplementary guarantees are listed.

4. Health certification  

Imports to GB must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the relevant GB model certificate, which is signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) or inspector of the veterinary authority in the country of origin. 

Model health certificates for live poultry

Model health certificates for ratites

5. Post-import requirements 

In accordance with Regulation (EC) 798/2008, breeding and productive poultry and ratites, and day-old chicks must be kept on the destination premises for 6 weeks or, if slaughtered before 6 weeks of their import, until the day of slaughter. For poultry day-old chicks, if the birds are sampled and tested with favourable results in accordance with Annex III of Regulation (EC) 798/2008 then the stand-still period may be reduced to 3 weeks. 

Poultry and ratites that have been hatched from imported hatching eggs must be isolated on the holding to which they were sent following hatching, for a period of at least 3 weeks from the day of hatching. 

6. Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands

Existing controls continue to apply, and therefore these movements must be in accordance with the General Licence. Consignments must comply with the conditions in the licence which may require it to be accompanied by a health certificate.

Poultry and hatching eggs from Northern Ireland (IMP/GEN/2004/8) (PDF, 45.1 KB, 2 pages).

Poultry or hatching-eggs from Channel Islands (IMP/GEN/2011/12) (PDF, 71.1 KB, 2 pages).

You must notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) of imports of hatching eggs and day-old chicks from Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. See the IIN for general information for imports of live animals and germplasm for more information regarding pre-notification.

7. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Email: [email protected] 

Telephone: 03000 200 301