IPAFFS & TRACES Management – UK to Ireland Regulatory Support
The movement of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods—such as food, live animals, plant products, and animal by-products—between Great Britain and Ireland (including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) is subject to stringent health and safety regulations. These goods must be declared and pre-notified through specialised systems such as IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System) and TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System), both of which are essential for ensuring regulatory compliance and biosecurity.
At FF Customs & Logistics, we offer end-to-end IPAFFS & TRACES Management Services, supporting clients in fulfilling all documentary, procedural, and inspection requirements when moving controlled goods between the UK and Ireland. Our expertise ensures full compliance with both UK and EU import control frameworks—reducing the risk of clearance delays, rejected entries, or costly errors.
Understanding IPAFFS & TRACES
Businesses moving SPS-regulated goods across the Irish Sea are often required to use both systems, depending on the direction of travel and final destination of the goods.
Our IPAFFS & TRACES Services Include:
We ensure all mandatory data is submitted accurately and within the required timeframes—typically 24 hours before goods are due to arrive at the point of entry—to allow inspection authorities adequate time to prepare.
Goods That Commonly Require IPAFFS or TRACES Notifications:
These goods often require valid health certificates, issued in the country of origin and signed by an authorised veterinary or phytosanitary officer. FFCL ensures that these certificates are correctly matched with the relevant IPAFFS or TRACES notification to prevent clearance issues.
Failure to notify via IPAFFS or TRACES can result in:
With increasing scrutiny of SPS goods and enhanced digital control systems post-Brexit, businesses can no longer rely on informal or undocumented movement of goods. Full traceability and pre-clearance are now standard expectations.
FF Customs & Logistics provides a seamless service that integrates IPAFFS and TRACES declarations with your wider customs clearance, GVMS/GMR creation, and logistics planning. We coordinate directly with your freight forwarders, hauliers, and port health authorities to ensure smooth, compliant movement of goods across the GB–Ireland border.
Whether you’re shipping fresh food to Dublin, transporting cut flowers to Belfast, or sending animal feed through the UK landbridge, our team ensures every regulatory detail is accounted for.
We work extensively with businesses in:
Each sector requires tailored handling of health certificates, labelling requirements, and inspection processes. Our expertise ensures your consignments meet the relevant standards every time.
As regulations continue to evolve in response to Brexit, UK-EU relations, and international health standards, FF Customs & Logistics remains committed to supporting IPAFFS & TRACES management service, we can ensure that your SPS goods reach their destination safely, lawfully, and without disruption.
