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Cuardaigh ar fad gov.ie

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Meat Preparations



General Principles and Relevant Legislation

1. Meat preparations are defined in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 as ‘fresh meat, including meat that has been reduced to fragments, which has had foodstuffs, seasonings or additives added to it or which has undergone processes insufficient to modify the internal muscle fibre structure of the meat and thus to eliminate the characteristics of fresh meat.’

2. Meat preparations can be derived from domestic bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine, poultry, lagomorphs, wild game and farmed game that have passed ante and post-mortem inspections and been declared fit for human consumption.

3. For wild game, a trained person must have carried out an examination, as appropriate, to identify whether there are any characteristics to indicate that the meat presents a risk to public health.

4. Meat preparations must have been chilled to an internal temperature of not more than -18°C at the production plant(s) of origin.

5. Meat preparations can be imported provided that they:

• Come from an approved country/part of a country

• Come from an EU approved establishment

• Are accompanied by an agreed animal/public health certificate

6.The meat preparation must have been produced in accordance with the conditions laid down in:

• Council Directive 2002/99/EC laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption

• Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety

• Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs

• Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 laying down specific rules for food of animal origin

• Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/692 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292 of 6 September 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption


Import Conditions

1. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/692 sets out the requirements for entry into the Union of meat preparations.

2. Meat preparations are only permitted from third countries authorised to import into the EU fresh meat of that species listed in the following legislation:

- ANNEX XIII of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 with regards to fresh meat of ungulates

- Annex XIV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 with regards to fresh meat of poultry and game birds

3. Meat preparations must be produced in establishments approved to export to the EU:

• See list here (Chapter, Food: Section, Minced meat, meat preparations and mechanically separated meat)

4. The country of origin must also be listed for the appropriate species, as per Article 2a of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405, in the list of third countries with approved control plans for pharmacologically active substances, pesticides and contaminants in certain food-producing animals and products of animal origin intended for human consumption. The approved control plans for pharmacologically active substances, pesticides and contaminants, referred to in Article 6(1) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2292, are listed in Annex -I of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405

5. Meat products from bovine, ovine or caprine animals must meet the relevant requirements of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, which lays down the rules for the prevention, control and eradication of TSEs.

6. Meat containing striated muscles of animal species that may be carriers of Trichinella may only be imported into the EU if an examination for Trichinella has been performed in the third country where the animals were slaughtered in accordance with conditions equivalent to those laid down in Article 2 or 3 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375.

7. A Third Country may only apply the derogations provided for in Article 3(2) and (3) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1375 if it has informed the European Commission of the application of those derogations and if it has been listed for that purpose in Annex VII of the same Regulation. This relates to derogation from Trichinella testing and at present only applies to imports from GB.

8. Meat preparations must bear a health or identification mark in accordance with the requirements of Regulations (EC) No’s 853/2004 and 2019/627 as appropriate. The mark must be applied before the product leaves the establishment.

9. Meat preparations presented at a Border Control Post of the EU must be labelled in conformity with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 and Regulation (EC) No. 1825/2000.

10. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have international agreements with the EU which means that they implement EU veterinary legislation in relation to the movement of animal products. Animal products from these countries must comply with the same requirements applying to animal products from EU Member States and are therefore not subject to official controls.

11. Other Third Countries have special conditions associated with the import of products of animal origin. Further information can be found in the following legislation relevant to that particular country:

• Canada: Council Decision 1999/201/EC; Decision 79/542/EC

• New Zealand: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1901; Council Decision 97/132/EC

• Japan: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1533

• USA: Council Decision 1998/258/EC


Veterinary Certification

1. Meat preparations shall be presented at a Community Border Control Post accompanied by a veterinary certificate, drawn up in conformity with the model laid down in Chapter 24 of Annex III of COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/2235.

MP-PREP Model Certificate
Amharc amharc

2. The certifying veterinarian should ensure that only the relevant paragraphs and, where appropriate, additional guarantees and/or special conditions applicable to exporting country are included.

3: DAFM strive to provide the most up to date version of the relevant EHCs, however legislation updates do take place so TRACES should always be consulted to check for the most up to date version.


Document Submission

1. Consignments of meat preparations entering the EU must be inspected at an EU-approved Border control Post (BCP) where Member States' official veterinarians ensure they fulfil all the requirements provided for in the EU legislation.

2. The person responsible for the load being imported (the importer or a customs agent acting on their behalf) must give the BCP at the intended point of entry advance notification of the arrival of the consignment.

3. There is a required minimum pre-notification notice period of at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the consignment’s arrival.

4. Failure to submit correct documentation within this timeline may result in significant delays in the consignment being processed through the Border Control Post.

5. Pre-notification is given by the submission of Part 1 of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED-P), as is laid down in Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 2019/1715, through the online TRACES system.

6. Copies of other supporting documentation associated with the consignment should be submitted at this time as well - such as the Health Certificate, Invoice, Packing list etc.

7: Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via the DAFM Import Portal


Border Control

1. Providing all the documentation has been submitted correctly and within the correct timeframes, a large proportion of the documentary check can be commenced in advance of the consignment’s arrival. This includes examination of the veterinary certificate and other documents accompanying a consignment.

• Please note the original hard copy of the health certificate must travel with the consignment, this will be checked and held at the BCP at the point of entry into the EU.

2. Provided all is in order with the documentary check, the consignment will then be subject to an identity check at the BCP to ensure it identifies with the consignment that was declared in the documentation.

3. A proportion of consignments will be selected for a full physical inspection with/without sampling as appropriate.

4. Upon satisfactory completion of the required checks, the decision is entered in Part 2 of the CHED which must accompany the consignment to the first place of destination referred to in the CHED.

5. If the consignment does not meet the import requirements, the consignment may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.

Note on health certificate requirements


Information Note on Health Certificates for Fresh or Chilled Meat Preparations

Information note on health certificates for fresh or chilled meat preparations.
Download link for Íoslódáil

Foot and Mouth disease and Recertification of Meat Preparations

• Since 13/01/25, GB(UK) has banned the importation of fresh meat and meat preps from ungulates and meat products from ungulates that have not been subject to specific treatment D1 or higher (including wild game) originating in Germany.

• Meat preps, meat products, or other products containing meat products, which are exported from GB to the EU (Ireland) must be certified by an Official Veterinarian in GB as complying with the relevant animal health guarantees in the health certificate for entry to the EU. These include that the meat products came from animals in an establishment not subject to national restriction measures for animal health reasons.

• As a consequence of Germany losing FMD freedom the import into the UK of fresh meat, meat preps or meat products from ungulates from Germany that have not been subject to specific treatment D1 or higher is not permitted since 13/01/25.

• Product which was imported into GB prior to the confirmation of FMD in Germany may be processed into meat preps, meat products or product containing meat products and exported back to the EU provided all relevant guarantees in the relevant EU health certificate can be met.