Skip to main content

Importing food, tobacco products or cosmetics

When importing food, tobacco products, or cosmetics into Ireland, you must submit certain documentation. Failure to do so will result in delays to your vehicles and consignments.

Documents to submit

To get HSE clearance of all third country consignments (including Great Britain) when entering into the port, agents, drivers, and importers must submit:

  • Single Administrative Document (SAD)
  • commercial invoice
  • bill of lading
  • packing list
  • consignee details
  • delivery address
  • country of origin of the products
  • airway bill (where appropriate)
  • location in seaport or airport
  • any available certificates, declarations or analytical reports should also be included (these may be mandatory for products subject to increased controls)

These documents must be submitted before your arrival into the port. They are in addition to the documents submitted to the Revenue Commissioners, so you must submit them separately.

If the HSE needs more information, it will contact you. The HSE’s NEHS operates on a 24/7 basis and is completing document checks continuously.

How to submit your documents

You must submit your documents via email. If you fail to do this, your vehicles and consignments will be delayed.

To submit your documents please email:

What happens next

Once you have you submitted your documents, you will get a confirmation email outlining next steps.

What you need to know

The National Environmental Health Service (NEHS) at the HSE is responsible for controlling imports of:

  • food products of non-animal origin
  • some food contact materials
  • cosmetic products
  • tobacco and tobacco-related products entering the State from countries outside of the European Union (EU) (third countries)

Food imports of non-animal origin

Food imports of non-animal origin, tobacco, and cosmetic products from countries outside of the EU are assessed and inspected at Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Port of Cork, Cork airport, Shannon airport, and Rosslare Europort. Environmental Health Officers carry this out.

Products subject to increased official controls, including examination and sampling can only be imported through a Border Control Post (BCP). In Ireland, these are Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, and Rosslare Port.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has additional information on importing food and food contact materials into Ireland including food of non-animal origin subject to increased controls.

TRACES NT

Foods of non-animal origin and food contact material that are subject to increased checks at our BCPs must be notified to the NEHS at least 24 hours before arriving.

Please send the details to one of these email addresses:

importcontroldublin@hse.ie

importcontrolrosslare@hse.ie

They must also be submitted on TRACES NT.

If you need help using TRACES NT or registering for it, please use the email addresses above.

Food business operators, consignees, or shipping agents working on their behalf must:

  • register with TRACES NT
  • create and submit Part I of the Common Health Entry Document (CHED.D) on TRACES NT - validated by the HSE if all checks carried out are satisfactory

Register for TRACES

This is a beta version - your feedback will help us to improve it