Import rules - who to contact?

garcia

Hi all I have a chronic health condition which I manage by taking quite a few supplements. As a result I order my supplements from the US (a big saving on UK prices) and have been doing so for years. However recently the US website I order from will no longer allow UK customers to purchase fish oil (one of my main supplements). They said that UK customs had apparently sent back several packages containing fish oil. Have import regulations on fish oil supplements changed recently? I've been importing fish oil for personal use for years with no issues.

I sent an email to Defra asking about import regulations, but they forwarded it to MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency), who told me:

"Food supplements, vitamins and minerals are under the remit of the Department of Health and food regulations are enforced by Trading Standards Service, therefore, we would advise you to contact them directly."

Does this sound fishy to anyone else (pardon the pun)? I can't imagine either the department of health or trading standards being responsible for the importation of fish oil supplements.

Does anyone know who I could contact to find out if there are any restrictions on the importation of fish oil from outside the EU (namely from the US)???

Many thanks!

WTFH

30 seconds with google gave me this.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-trade/2012/ovs-note-201214-european-commissions-advice-on-fish-oil/
Any fish oil products are subject to veterinary checks at the point of import.

http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/bips/faq/index_en.htm
(scroll down, then expand the section on fish oils)
The product needs to have certificates with it, or it won't even make it to a veterinary check.

garcia

Many thanks a lot for that excellent reply WTFH! It was a big help (unlike the reply I got from defra!).