The Border Inspection Post (BIP) at Stansted Airport has
been established to comply with the requirements of EU Directive 91/496. All
animals arriving from countries that are not members of the European Union
are required to be removed to the BIP for veterinary inspection. This also
applies to animals that are destined for other EU countries other than the
UK, that are being offloaded whilst in transit through Stansted.
The Directive is enacted in the UK in the Animals and
Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1995 (Statutory Instrument
1995 No. 2428).
The law requires that advance information shall be
given at least 24 hours* before the actual arrival of horses, cattle, sheep,
pigs, goats and other ungulates and equidae to:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
The Border Inspection Post (BIP)
However, it is usual practice for the Airlines to
give advance information but, legally, it is the importer’s
responsibility.
This will ensure that a State Veterinary Officer is
available to inspect the animals on their arrival at the Border Inspection
Post.
HM Customs, HM Immigration Service and Stansted Airport
Security also require advance information relating to the persons
accompanying the animals; information on their requirements can be found in Procedures.
Telephone and fax numbers are shown in Contacts
of this publication.
* for consignments arriving on a Saturday or Sunday,
DEFRA should be advised on the preceding Friday.
