Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

Veterinary and Import Office

Are you bringing food or other animal products into the EU from a third country, or are you traveling with your pet from a third country? Do you trade in animal feed? Then the Veterinary and Import Office is the right contact.

Detailed description

There are certain goods that may only be imported into the EU after they have been registered and inspected by the Veterinary and Import Office. This applies to all animal products, such as meat, fish, and honey, as well as other animal products such as dog food. It also applies to products containing animal products, such as shrimp dumplings. This also applies to some purely plant-based foods, where inspections are provided for, and a few kitchen utensils. Further details on the procedure can be found under the link "Veterinary Office Border Service."



ATTENTION: If you are not sure whether your product is subject to control, please use our online service "Does your product require veterinary inspection upon import?"



As a feed business operator, you will receive export certificates from us and report any critical laboratory results to us. Together, we will then develop a solution.



Are you traveling with your pet to a third country or bringing an animal back from a third country? Then contact the veterinary and import authorities in advance to find out what requirements must be met.

 

Information

Prerequisites

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Documents required

Case-dependent

Please note

The Veterinary and Import Office deals exclusively with the import and transit from third countries in the EU. The import of food and other products of animal origin, the import of food of vegetable origin, transit and the import of live animals by plane is the responsibility of the Hamburg Airport border control. (Flughafenstrasse 1-3, 22335 Hamburg Tel .: +49 40 5075-1714, Fax +49 40 5075-2110)

Deadlines

Shipments must be registered with the Veterinary and Import Office before arrival.


This excludes pets traveling abroad; however, prior registration via GKS-Flughafen@justiz.hamburg.de is recommended to ensure swift processing upon arrival.

Procedure

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Processing time

Two business days are required for processing the registration and document verification. If the goods require presentation or sampling, additional time is required until you have provided the goods. A laboratory result may need to be awaited.

Fees

Case-dependent

Legal remedies

If your shipment or pet application is rejected, you will receive a letter. This letter will also explain how and where you can appeal the decision.

Legal basis

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and accompanying legal acts

Address and contact information

Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

Veterinary and Import Office

Mon-Fri 7am-12pm, Mon-Thu 12.30pm-2.30pm, Fri 12.30pm-2pm, closed on the 1st Thursday of the month from 1.30pm

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Keywords: Import and transit Border inspection posts Veterinary office border service Import of certain foods Transit of certain foods Health certificate Animal import Feed monitoring TRACES registration Export certificates Pet travel Food imports Goods inspection Veterinary obligation Online import service Proof of vaccination Animal identification Traveling with animals GGED

Last updated: 08.06.2026