IMPORTING LIVE ANIMALS, HORSES OR SPS PRODUCTS FROM THE UK? WE’LL HELP YOU COMPLY WITH ALL SIVEP VETERINARY & SPS INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS.
The Veterinary and Phytosanitary Border Inspection Service (SIVEP) at Calais Port is a French border authority operating under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and the Ministry for Customs and Public Accounts. Its primary mission is to carry out mandatory sanitary and phytosanitary inspections on goods originating from non-EU countries (third countries) that enter French territory—and by extension, the European Single Market—through the port of Calais.
In concrete terms, the SIVEP is responsible for controlling products of animal origin (such as meat, fish, milk or eggs), live animals, plants, foodstuffs of non-animal origin (including some processed products and food supplements), and animal by-products (such as animal meals, hides, or skins). Each product category is subject to specific European regulations, with the following key objectives:
Since the United Kingdom left the European Union (Brexit), Calais Port has become a central hub in the EU’s border inspection system. Due to the high volume of trade flows between the UK and France, the SIVEP at Calais has significantly expanded its operations. It now benefits from dedicated, EU-approved facilities, including unloading bays, cold storage units, quarantine zones, laboratories, as well as a multidisciplinary team made up of veterinary inspectors, phytosanitary officers, technical specialists, and administrative staff.
Before these goods can be released for free circulation or transit within the EU, importers must submit an advance notification via European information systems such as TRACES NT. The shipments are then subject to documentary, identity, and physical inspections, and sometimes laboratory testing, depending on the type of goods, their origin, and the associated level of risk.
The SIVEP at Calais plays a vital role in protecting the health and biosecurity of the European Union, acting as a frontline defence at one of its busiest border entry points. At the same time, it contributes to the smooth functioning of international trade, ensuring that inspections are thorough yet efficient so that logistics chains remain as fluid as possible for businesses.
Passing through the SIVEP (Veterinary and Phytosanitary Border Inspection Service) is mandatory in several well-defined cases. These controls apply primarily to goods originating from non-EU countries (third countries) entering the European Union via France. You must go through SIVEP veterinary checks in the following situations:
Importation of products of animal origin intended for human consumption (e.g., meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, honey, etc.).
Importation of materials not meant for human consumption (e.g., animal meals, hides, horns, fats, etc.).
Importation of foodstuffs containing ingredients of animal origin (e.g., ready-made meals, food supplements, pet food).
Transit of live animals or products of animal origin through France (e.g., UK to another EU country or vice versa).
Importation of live animals (e.g., cattle, sheep, poultry, horses, dogs, cats, exotic pets).
Importation of certain plant-based goods presenting a phytosanitary risk (e.g.: fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, wood, soil…)
Products subject to animal health restrictions or special sanitary protection rules, even if not intended for food use.
Return of goods temporarily exported from the EU (e.g., racehorses or animal products returning from fairs or competitions).
Before goods leave the United Kingdom, all import procedures must be initiated and validated in the TRACES-NT system.
Entry into the European Union is strictly limited to consignments pre-registered in TRACES-NT and cleared through SIVEP’s SPS inspections.
If a shipment hasn’t been registered in TRACES-NT prior to departure from the UK, it will be denied access and returned immediately—without even reaching the inspection stage.
ASD Group can handle all TRACES-NT procedures on your behalf, ensuring your goods are compliant and ready for EU entry.
When bringing goods into the European Union, strict rules apply to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls and customs clearance. Failing to follow these procedures can result in serious delays or your goods being turned back at the border. Below are the key points you need to know to ensure a smooth entry into the EU.
All sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) inspections must take place at the first point of entry into the European Union.
Goods can only be cleared through customs after the CHED (Common Health Entry Document) has been validated by SIVEP, regardless of where you intend to complete the customs formalities.
If the SPS check is not carried out at the first point of entry, customs clearance cannot take place. In this case, the vehicle will need to return to the original EU entry point for inspection.
Wooden pallets and dunnage used for transporting goods must be ISPM15-compliant and bear the appropriate mark. Vehicles using non-compliant wood packaging will be turned back to the UK.
Not all SIVEP border control posts handle all types of products. You must send vehicles to a location that is authorised to inspect the type of goods being transported. Example: the Calais SIVEP office does not handle seafood. Shipments of seafood must go through Boulogne-sur-Mer instead.
ASD Group is here to support you every step of the way — from SPS checks to customs clearance. We help ensure your goods meet all EU entry requirements, so you avoid delays and stay compliant.
ASD Group supports you throughout the process of importing live animals, products subject to veterinary regulations, phytosanitary products or non animal products subject to Sivep or customs inspection. Here is how we can assist you:
We handle the creation and submission of the following documents in the TRACES-NT system:
ASD Group can submit the required pre-notification through the EU's TRACES-NT system on your behalf. This notification must be made a few hours before the truck arrives, often in the morning for the evening, sometimes one working day before the goods arrive at the Border Control Post (BCP) within the EU customs territory.
After the sanitary checks are carried out by the authorities (SIVEP), ASD Group ensures the CHED document is validated in the TRACES-NT system. This validation confirms that the animals or products comply with the EU sanitary requirements.
ASD Group works for you using the latest available software technologies and the advanced skills of our teams.
24/7
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Over 25 years of experience
Approved by the French Customs Authorities
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As of 1 January 2021, following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union under Brexit, Calais has become an official entry point into the EU.
All goods of animal or plant origin are now subject to veterinary, sanitary, and phytosanitary (SPS) checks at the border before being allowed to circulate within the European Union.
These inspections must be carried out at designated facilities known as SIVEP (Veterinary and Phytosanitary Border Inspection Services), located at the EU’s points of entry.
These checks are completely separate from customs procedures.
Veterinary and phytosanitary authorities must grant approval for goods to enter EU territory before any further action can be taken.
If the veterinary or phytosanitary authorities refuse entry due to non-compliance, two outcomes are possible:
ASD Group has offices in Calais and at the Eurotunnel exit to provide assistance 24/7 during inspections. On request, we can also travel to Dunkerque Ferry and Boulogne-sur-Mer to support you.
You can appoint ASD Group in TRACES and grant us access so we can provide assistance in dealing with SIVEP during your SPS controls, or better still, hand over responsibility for managing your CHEDs in TRACES direct to ASD Group.
Sliding scale of charges based on the number of vehicles.
We estimate that 340,000 inspections will take place each year at the SIVEP offices in the Hauts de France region. Organizing your schedules with ASD Group will make the border control process run smoothly.
(dogs, cats, and ferrets)
