What CHED documents are required and when?

In the United Kingdom, a CHED – Common Health Entry Document – continues to exist, but it is generated and managed exclusively through the IPAFFS system. After Brexit, the UK no longer uses the European TRACES NT platform. Instead, IPAFFS is the single national portal where importers or their agents create CHEDs for consignments subject to sanitary and phytosanitary rules. The role of the CHED is the same as in the EU: it is the official record that a regulated consignment has been pre-notified, that the correct certificates are attached, and that the competent UK authorities have been alerted and can carry out the required controls. Without the right CHED in IPAFFS, goods cannot pass the SPS clearance stage, and customs release will not be possible.
There are four main types of CHED in use in Great Britain, each tied to a category of goods:
CHED-A is required for live animals. Every consignment of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, pets or zoo animals must be declared in IPAFFS by creating a CHED-A. This allows veterinary staff to prepare for checks, verify health certificates, and, if needed, carry out inspections on arrival.
CHED-P is used for products of animal origin intended for human consumption (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, etc.), for germinal products like semen and embryos, and for certain animal by-products. An Export Health Certificate from the exporting country must be attached, and inspectors will confirm that the certificate matches the goods and seals.
CHED-D applies to high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO). Specific nuts, spices, seeds or vegetables that present known contamination risks require this document. Pre-notification through IPAFFS with a CHED-D allows Port Health Authorities to plan checks and, if needed, sample the goods.
CHED-PP covers plants and plant products. Importers of live plants, cuttings, seeds, fruits, wood packaging material and other regulated commodities must create a CHED-PP, based on the phytosanitary certificate issued in the exporting country. Plant health inspectors then use this document as the basis for their control and clearance decision.
It is essential to select the correct type of CHED in IPAFFS. Submitting the wrong category will create mismatches with customs declarations and can block the consignment at the border. In some situations, more than one CHED is required for a single vehicle. A truck carrying frozen meat and potted plants would require both a CHED-P and a CHED-PP, raised separately but linked to the same consignment.
Timing is critical. The CHED (Part I of the document, completed by the importer or agent) must be created and submitted in IPAFFS before the goods arrive in Great Britain, usually at least one working day in advance. This allows authorities to review the documents and prepare inspection resources. If a CHED is missing or late, the goods will be held until it is properly in place. Once the consignment arrives, inspectors complete Part II of the CHED in IPAFFS, recording the result of their checks. The system then holds the final version as the official record: cleared, rejected, or subject to conditions. This electronic record links directly with customs systems so that goods cannot be released until the CHED shows a satisfactory outcome.
Importers must remember that a CHED is not a substitute for original certificates, but rather a digital record of them. The Export Health Certificate or phytosanitary certificate remains mandatory, and its details must be uploaded into IPAFFS when creating the CHED. The CHED then ties those certificates to the shipment in a way UK border systems can process efficiently.
For businesses with occasional shipments, creating the right CHED in IPAFFS can feel complicated. Choosing the right type, inputting the correct commodity codes, attaching the proper documents, and meeting deadlines all require attention to detail. Mistakes can lead to costly delays. This is why many importers rely on a professional agent. Franzosini & Butti Ltd, based in Dover, specialises in handling CHED creation within IPAFFS. They know which CHED applies to each commodity, ensure that certificates and consignment details are accurate, and submit the documents within the required timeframe. By coordinating CHED submissions with customs entries, they provide clients with a seamless process from border pre-notification to final clearance.
To illustrate:
A shipment of French cheese requires a CHED-P, backed by the Export Health Certificate from France.
A consignment of Turkish pistachios under HRFNAO rules requires a CHED-D, with accompanying test results.
A delivery of Dutch tulip bulbs requires a CHED-PP, created in IPAFFS from the phytosanitary certificate.
A lorry of Spanish horses requires a CHED-A, linked to veterinary certificates.
Each of these examples shows how the CHED provides UK authorities with advance notice and a structure to carry out checks, ensuring safety while allowing legitimate trade to flow.
In summary, CHEDs do exist in the UK, but they are created exclusively in IPAFFS. They are mandatory for all consignments of live animals, products of animal origin, high-risk food or feed not of animal origin, and regulated plants and plant products. They must be created before arrival, supported by the appropriate certificates, and accurately linked to customs declarations. Using an experienced agent like Franzosini & Butti Ltd ensures that every CHED is created correctly and on time, helping importers avoid unnecessary delays and guaranteeing smooth passage of goods through the UK border.