Certification Logistics Module: import requirements
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-07)

Guidance on the import requirements for participating businesses, including guidance for certifying officers.

This guidance is for businesses taking part in the Certification Logistics Module (CLM) and Official Veterinarians (OVs) certifying eligible consignments.

The Certification Logistics Module simplifies the certification process for packaged animal products that move from a distribution hub in the EU to Great Britain.

Participants can import eligible products into GB obtaining an export health certificate (EHC) issued at the point of origin of the goods (such as a manufacturing site). They do not need to obtain certification at the EU distribution hub.

The following businesses are authorised to participate in the scheme:
- DFDS Logistics Limited
- ECS European Containers
- Lidl UK Trading Ltd
- Nagel Group Ltd
- Stef Langdons Ltd
As a participating business you must follow the specific requirements in the CLM handbook and will be audited accordingly.

Eligible goods

This scheme is only for medium-risk products of animal origin (POAO) for human consumption and medium-risk animal by-products (ABP). The goods must be packaged prior to official certification in the EU and EFTA countries.

The scheme excludes high risk POAO and ABP as well as High Risk Food not of Animal Origin (HRFNAO). You can check this link for animal product risk categories (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/risk-categories-for-animal-and-animal-product-imports-to-great-britain).

Document requirements

For eligible goods you must:
- arrange to affix to the specific chosen level of unit, a unique Unit Level Identification (ULI) number, if you wish to split consignments at a distribution hub
- arrange to obtain an EHC from the ‘point of origin’ of the goods rather than the point of final dispatch
- provide ULI numbers to the certifying competent authority
- make the ‘trusted trader declaration’ and include it with the EHC and your trusted trader reference number to your import notification (Ched Part I) on IPAFFS
Note for Veterinary Officers

Where the supplier affixes and provides a unique Unit Level Identifier to their chosen level of unit (such as pallets or boxes), these numbers must be part of the certification (see ‘Guidance for certifying officers’).

Point of origin

The point of origin is the final manufacturing or processing site where the goods were processed and packaged or the storage site following this.

If certified at a storage unit, the certifying officer must be satisfied that they have the supporting information for the establishment where processing and packing took place to undertake the certification.

Health certificates

The health certificate requirements for goods imported under the scheme are similar to standard (non-CLM) requirements. However, there are specific variations permitted to accommodate the CLM. These are limited to Part I of the certificate and specified below.

Distribution hub requirements

A distribution hub used for CLM eligible goods must be:
- listed as an authorised establishment (https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/595901f1-b613-475e-a32b-c02c0085675d/establishments-approved-to-export-animals-and-animal-products-to-great-britain) for exports to GB
- registered or approved by the competent authority of the country it is located in
The UK-based part of your business must take responsibility for and have oversight of the EU-based hubs and logistic arrangements in handling or storing CLM eligible goods, in their journey to Great Britain.

Guidance for certifying officers

Certifying officers should complete a health certificate (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-complete-a-health-certificate-for-imports-to-great-britain/how-to-complete-a-health-certificate-for-imports-to-great-britain) as normal, except for information about the:
- Consignee/importer
- Country of origin
- Place of dispatch
- Means of transport
- Description of consignment/goods
- Entry point/Border control post
Traders making pre-import notifications in IPAFFS for CLM eligible goods must ensure that any fields which may have been copied from the electronic EHC, are corrected and updated with the correct information for that consignment at that time.

Consignee/ importer (usually I.5 on EHC)

The consignee/importer should be the name and address of the natural or legal person who is receiving the consignment in GB. For CLM consignments, the consignee may not be known. In such cases, enter the GB address of the authorised CLM participant. Alternatively, if the local certifying authority allows it, enter the address of the intermediate destination (the distribution hub in the EU).

Country of Origin (usually I.7 on EHC)

This is the country (or region) where the goods were packaged and certified and begin their journey, not where the dispatch to Great Britain from the distribution hub takes place.

Place of Dispatch (usually I.11 on EHC)

This should be the actual place from where the goods are loaded after obtaining a certificate for the goods. As such, the place of dispatch on the EHC should match the correct location in the section ‘Description of consignment’ and should not be the distribution hub.

Place of loading (usually I.13 on EHC)

This is normally the port or terminal where the goods are loaded on or into the means of transport for crossing the border into GB. For CLM, if this is not known, it may be the listed (see ‘Distribution Hub Requirements’ above) distribution hub from where the goods will be despatched directly to GB.

Means of transport (usually I.15 on EHC)

In the means of transport box, write one of the following:
- the means of transport in which the goods will depart the establishment where the goods are being certified, such as road haulage, rail wagon, shipping container
- ‘groupage’
You do not need to know the means of transport used to cross the border into Great Britain.

Entry point (usually I.16 on EHC).

The EHC must include the official reference of a GB border control post (BCP (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animals-animal-products-and-hrfnao-imports-authorised-border-control-posts-in-the-uk)). Use the most likely entry point as provided by the applicant for the certificate. Whilst the EHC may not be accurate when the goods cross the border, the pre-import declaration (the CHED-P), must be made to the correct BCP Point of Entry into GB, and overrides what is recorded in the EHC.

Using unit-level identifiers (ULI) for split consignments

If the CLM participant intends to split a certified consignment at the distribution hub, they must arrange for the required unit-level identifiers (ULI) to be included in the health certification.

Official Veterinarians (OVs) must verify the use of a ULI on the units of the consignment. They are required to certify this in the same way as establishing compliance for other aspects of the certification.

The CLM participant uses the ULIs to declare and record which units from the certified consignment are moving into Great Britain (GB). The GB competent authority uses these ULIs to trace and check parts of the certified consignment and that the imported goods are certified as compliant with GB import requirements.

The exact nature and format of the ULI is up to the CLM participant and their suppliers but must be unique. They must be applied at the level that the goods will be divided at the distribution hub. For example, pallet-level ULIs, if the goods will be divided at pallet level, or box-level identifiers if the goods are to be divided at a boxed level. The ULI must be readable without damaging the wrapping or packaging and must be affixed to the unit of choice.

Changes from 1 September 2025

From 1 September 2025, OVs are required to verify the ULI information in the EHC by either:

adding ULIs to the certificate (or verifying them if entered by the applicant)

adding an official schedule (signed and stamped) to the certificate

Adding unit-level identifiers to the certificate

Certifying Officers must allow and certify ULIs by including them in Part I of the EHC under ‘Container Number’ Part I.19. The unique unit-level identifiers must be recorded with the prefix ‘CLM ULI’ followed by the ULI number (for example: CLM ULI 123).

Adding schedules to certificates

If all of the identifiers for containers and ULIs cannot be inserted as ‘Container No’, a schedule to the EHC should be created, cross referenced and added as an official schedule to the certificate.

If a separate document cannot be inserted in the certificate as paginated pages of the certificate, it must be formatted correctly, printed, signed in ink, and stamped with an official stamp. Then it should be uploaded as an electronic ‘additional document’ to the certificate referenced in Part I.17 of the linked certificate.

Competent authorities should not expect a formal GB template for this purpose. They are expected to certify the ULI information contained therein in the same way as if it was information entered directly into ‘Container No’ of Part I of the certificate.

CLM-eligible goods must be certified via verifiable PDF certificates . Check the list of countries Great Britain will accept validated PDF GB health certificates from (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countries-great-britain-will-accept-validated-pdf-gb-health-certificates-from).