On June 20, 2024, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website announced that the UK is updating the import risk categories under the Border Targeting Operating Model (BTOM) for animals or animal products imported into the UK (England, Scotland, and Wales) from non-EU countries, the rules for imports in each category, and inspection rates, with updates including:

(1) The risk categorization spreadsheet has been updated to reflect that in all cases, all fishery products associated with histamine are categorized as medium risk, even if it otherwise meets the low risk criteria, with the exception of fish oil;

(2) Commodity "snails, other than sea snails" (16055800) has been updated to Medium Risk or Low Risk if the product is shelf-stable at ambient temperatures (can be stored safely at room temperature in sealed containers);

(3) Note 2 in tab 4 (Reference) of the risk classification spreadsheet has been updated to be consistent with Note 2 in the summary table.

Learn more: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/risk-categories-for-animal-and-animal-product-imports-from-non-eu-countries-to-great-britain#full-publication-update-history