TOM SPS risk categories

June 14th, 2023

Defra has published a new commodity-code search, allowing traders of animals and most products of animal origin to more easily identify the TOM risk categorisation of their EU & EFTA origin goods.

As set out in the draft TOM, the UK has published a new risk-based regime for animals and animal product commodities. The regime categorises goods into high, medium and low-risk, and provides traders with the details of how the new SPS regime – as set out in the draft TOM - will be applied, including if health certification and checks will be applicable.

The categorisation is derived from a scientific assessment of the biosecurity and food safety risk that each commodity poses, weighted against the disease and pest risk of the country of origin. The categorisation is designed to be dynamic to respond to changing risks. TOM risk categories for imports of animals and animal products from non-EU countries will be published in summer 2023.

The EU will be treated as a single epidemiological entity, therefore all imports from the EU countries, will have SPS controls applied consistently. EFTA countries (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland & Lichtenstein) align their SPS regime’s with the EU, and so are also included in the scope of the new commodity code search tool.

If you import food products, live animals or animal products, from the EU into GB, you need to check the TOM risk-level of your commodity now to be ready for upcoming changes to import processes.

To view the Animals and Animal Products TOM risk categories - Import risk categories for animals and animal products imported from the EU to Great Britain, from 31 October 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

.gov.uk