All organic goods entering Great Britain from Non-EU countries will require a paper-based COI.
You can download paperwork, guidance notes and templates relating to the GB organic import system below:
For organic goods coming to GB from the EU, EEA and Switzerland a Certificate of Inspection will be required from 1st February 2027.
This means that the requirement for COIs for organic goods entering GB from the EU, EEA and Switzerland will continue to be waived until that date.
Registering Consignments on TRACES NT Portal:
Organic products that are to be exported from Great Britain to the European Union, Northern Ireland, European Economic Area and Switzerland will need to be accompanied by a Certificate of Inspection in order to be cleared at the point of entry into the EU.
COIs for the movement of organic goods from GB to the EU must be drawn up using the Traces NT portal.
You will need to be registered and validated with us as an exporter to be able to use Traces.
In addition to the exporter the COI would require a Traces NT registered GB certified processor/producer to be listed and a Traces NT registered EU/NI certified importer/first consignee.
Under the terms of the TCA (Trade and Cooperation Agreement) the only goods that are eligible to be exported from GB to the EU/NI are those that are of UK origin and have been processed or produced in the UK.
To find out further information as to which goods would qualify, please read the following information sheets:
Terms and conditions for the export of organic goods from GB to the EU
Definition of Processed Products
Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU Organic Regulations apply in NI.
The movement of organic goods from GB to NI must be accompanied by a valid COI using the EU’s TRACES NT
Some non-EU countries will require a COI to accompany organic goods being exported from GB in order for the goods to clear at the point of entry into the destination country.
In order to find out which destination countries require this paper work please contact our office.
As with the export of goods into the EU this certificate is to enhance traceability of imported organic products and reduce potential fraud.
The UK has equivalency arrangements with 13 non-EU countries:
Contact the office to check what product categories can be imported and exported.
Different exporting rules may apply if equivalency is not agreed between the UK and non-EU countries. Contact the exporting control body in the country you’re importing products from.
For more information check out the Government Guidance on importing and exporting organic products.
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