Frequently Asked Questions – IPAFFS and Health Certificates 

Q: An approved establishment is listed in TRACES NT but is not visible/selectable in IPAFFS 

A: The EU list of approved establishments of origin (available to select in IPAFFS) is supplied by the EU’s TRACES NT system. The list supplied by TRACES NT is refreshed regularly in IPAFFS (and we will investigate any cases where an establishment does not appear to have been pulled from TRACES NT and loaded into IPAFFS correctly). 

If you are not able to find your approved establishment in IPAFFS in the first instance, please: 

• Confirm that the establishment has been listed by the relevant competent authority in TRACES NT. 

• Check that all search filters are cleared in IPAFFS and retry your search.   

If your approved establishment is listed in TRACES NT but is still not visible in IPAFFS, then as a short-term workaround you can select the establishment titled 'Not Found' (under the ‘Country’ drop-down list) until it is added which will allow you to submit your CHED notification. To note, the ‘not found’ option is at the bottom of the ‘Country’ drop-down list displayed. It can be selected either by scrolling to the bottom of the drop-down list or by typing ‘not found’ in the ‘Country’ field.  

Q: Is it possible to amend a CHED.P once submitted? 

A: Currently you can amend your CHED.P notification at any point prior to it moving to a ‘Valid’ status in IPAFFS. It is not possible to provide a precise time at which this will happen. Until 30 April if you need to amend your notification, but it has already moved to a ‘Valid’ status in IPAFFS, there will be no need for you to submit a replacement pre-notification and your goods will not be held for checks at the border. 

Q: Can I ask Defra to cancel my CHED.P notification? 

A: We are not able to cancel your CHED.P notification once it has moved to a ‘Valid’ status in IPAFFS. Until 30 April if you need to amend your notification, but it has already moved to a ‘Valid’ status in IPAFFS, there will be no need for you to submit a replacement pre-notification and your goods will not be held for checks at the border. 

Q: I don’t know the transport/vehicle details at the point of submitting my notification 

A: Transport details should be provided at least one working day ahead of the consignment’s arrival in GB (i.e., at the point the CHED.P pre-notification needs to be submitted in IPAFFS). For example, if a road vehicle was travelling by ferry, you would enter the reference number of the bill of lading or sea waybill as well the CMR note (if applicable). Until 30 April you can add this information after the CHED.P has been submitted in IPAFFS, at any point up until the status of the notification in IPAFFS changes to ‘Valid.’ 

Q: Can I add additional species for the same commodity code? 

A: Yes, on the ‘Commodity page’ in IPAFFS there is a button to “add species” for a commodity code you have already selected. You should select the additional commodity type and tick the ‘check box’ for the species you wish to add/notify (but do not untick the ‘check box’ for the species you have already notified, as doing so will remove it from your CHED notification). 

Q: I can’t select the UK for the transited country in IPAFFS 

A: This field in IPAFFS is only used if the consignment moves through another country before arriving in GB. If it does not, you do not need to interact with/select an option from this field (i.e. it can be left blank). 

Q: Why are the previous GB Health Certificates for products under safeguard measures no longer available via IPAFFS? 

A: The safeguarding certificates that have been withdrawn from TRACES have been superseded by the streamlined certificates for each product type that came into use on the 31  January, 2024.  

Q: In the absence of these certificates what should traders use? 

A: W/C 19/02 Defra had a discussion with the Polish authorities and confirmed that Defra would continue to accept any goods certified on the safeguarding certificates between 1 and 14 February which was when the notification of the removal of the safeguarding certificates was made to EU Member States. Furthermore, Defra will also continue to accept the superseded safeguarding certificates generally until the end of April 2024. After this time the new GB streamlined certificates must be used.

Kind regards,

Trader Engagement & Readiness Team
Biosecurity, Borders and Trade Programme
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

*Defra Personal Information Charter: here