ENTRY, TRANSIT AND DEPARTURE OF CARGO

A list of the applicable rules can be consulted in section GEN 1.6. In the sections below, a descriptive summary is offered to help airspace users, although if there is any discrepancy, the Rule will prevail over the content of the AIP. The content of this AIP section does not fulfil the quality requirements.

CUSTOMS REQUIREMENTS

1. European Union (EU)

In application of European Union (EU) regulations in force, customs controls and formalities applicable to the exportation of cargo have been abolished for flights within the European Union.

2. Rest of the world

In cases of commercial shipments the following documents are required for the customs clearance of goods at Spanish airports:

Commercial invoice of the shipment.
Certificate of origin or equivalent (EUR.1; FORM “A”).
Import licence and certificate, if necessary, from the Health and/or Trade Authorities.

Simplified customs documentation may be used for shipments of low value.

Air cargo simply being transhipped from one flight to another, at the same airport under customs supervision, shall be included in the departure manifest of the aircraft receiving the cargo.

If cargo and other goods are to be transferred to another international Spanish airport, a manifest (Route-Manifest) shall be submitted. If they are bound for a foreign airport no special formalities are required, although the cargo shall remain under customs supervision and submission of the transit manifest and the shipment list may be required.
No clearance documents are required with respect to godos retained on board the aircraft leaving for a destination outside Spain.

Upon exportation, the following documents are required for the clearance of shipments to be exported by air:

Customs document.
Sanitary certificates and quality control (SOIVRE), when required.
Trading authorization for export, when required.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

A. LIVE ANIMALS, PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, PRODUCTS OF NON-ANIMAL ORIGIN INTENDED FOR ANIMAL FEED, AND PHARMACOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS FOR VETERINARY USE.

1. Departures

The regulations to be considered are Ley 8/2003 de Sanidad Animal and Real Decreto 990/2022 on rules for animal health and protection during transport.

Specifically, Article 18 of Real Decreto 990/2022 establishes that vertebrate animals for export must leave via airports authorised as exit points by the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/export/certificados_exportacion.aspx

The regulation to be applied is the Ley de Epizootias and the Reglamento that develops it.

Art.76 of the Reglamento establishes that products and animals shall be exported through the customs offices approved for this purpose and they shall be examined by the veterinary surgeons assigned to these offices.

Art. 103 of the above mentioned Reglamento states that the sanitary conditions for exporting animals and products must be reflected in an official veterinary certificate issued by the customs veterinary officer.

For more information, visit the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación website.

2. Arrivals

Live animals from third countries must compulsorily enter via airports with designated Border Control Post facilities:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/import/

The entry of live animals coming from third countries must compulsorily be carried out through the Border Inspection Posts (PIF) located at the following airports: Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Almería (*), Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Bilbao (*), Ciudad Real (*), Gran Canaria, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez MadridBarajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca (*), Sevilla (*), Tenerife Sur, Valencia and Vitoria (*).

The PIFs located at the following airports are not authorised for the entry of equines and ungulates: Alicante/AlicanteElche Miguel Hernández, Almería (*), Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Bilbao (*), Ciudad Real (*), Gran Canaria, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca (*), Sevilla (*) and Valencia.

Additionally, the entry of protected (CITES) species will only take place at authorised points for international trade in CITES specimens:
https://cites.comercio.gob.es/es-es/Control-Aduanas/Paginas/default.aspx

In addition, protected species (CITES) shall only enter through the authorized entry points by air, which are: A Coruña, Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Bilbao, Gran Canaria, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca, Sevilla, Tenerife Norte/Ciudad de La Laguna, Tenerife Sur and Valencia.

Pets from third countries are not transferred via BCP PIF facilities, but through Terminal Buildings, and at designated airports. The basic criteria for these movements, as well as the airports designated as Travellers’ Points of Entry, are available on the website of Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/desplazamiento-animales-compania/

Entry of products of animal origin not intended for human consumption and products of non-animal origin intended for animal feed must be at airports with facilities designated as Border Control Posts or Points of Entry:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/import/

The entry of products of animal origin not intended for human consumption must be carried out through the following airports: Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Almería (*), Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Bilbao (*), Ciudad Real (*), Girona (*), Gran Canaria, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca (*), San Sebastián (*), Santander/Seve BallesterosSantander (*), Santiago/Rosalía de Castro (*), Sevilla (*), Tenerife Sur, Valencia, Vigo (*) and Vitoria (*). (*) Border Inspection Posts temporarily suspended.

3. Basic applicable legislation

a) Live animals

Ley 8/2003 of 24 April, on animal health.
Real Decreto 990/2022 of 29 November, on rules for animal health and protection during transport.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 of 12 June 2019 to lay down detailed rules on minimum requirements for border control posts, including inspection centres, and for the format, categories and abbreviations to use for listing border control posts and control points.
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.
Council Regulation (EC) nº 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) nº 1255/97.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632 of 13 April 2021 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the lists of animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products and derived products, composite products, and hay and straw subject to official controls at border control posts, and repealing Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2007 and Commission Decision 2007/275/EC.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2130 of 25 November 2019 establishing detailed rules on the operations to be carried out during and after documentary checks, identity checks and physical checks on animals and goods subject to official controls at border control posts.
Ley 32/2007, of 7 November, on the welfare of animals during their husbandry, transportation, experimentation and slaughtering.
Regulation (EU) nº 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation (EC) nº 998/2003 Text with EEA relevance.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) nº 577/2013 of 28 June 2013 on the model identification documents for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets, the establishment of lists of territories and third countries and the format, layout and language requirements of the declarations attesting compliance with certain conditions provided for, in Regulation (EU) nº 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council Text with EEA relevance.

Obsolete legislation has been deleted

b) CITES protected species

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Council Regulation (EC) nº 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein.

More information available at:
https://www.cites.es/es-ES/legislacion/Paginas/Legislacion-de-aplicacion.aspx

Basic legislation applicable to products

c) Products of animal origin not intended for human consumption, products of non-animal origin intended for animal feed

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.
Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’).
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 of 10 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for official controls of consignments of animals and goods in transit, transhipment and onward transportation through the Union, and amending Commission Regulations (EC) nº 798/2008, (EC) nº 1251/2008, (EC) nº 119/2009, (EU) nº 206/2010, (EU) nº 605/2010, (EU) nº 142/2011, (EU) nº 28/2012, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/759 and Commission Decision 2007/777/EC.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2129 of 25 November 2019 establishing rules for the uniform application of frequency rates for identity checks and physical checks on certain consignments of animals and goods entering the Union.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2130 of 25 November 2019 establishing detailed rules on the operations to be carried out during and after documentary checks, identity checks and physical checks on animals and goods subject to official controls at border control posts.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632 of 13 April 2021 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the lists of animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products and derived products, composite products, and hay and straw subject to official controls at border control posts, and repealing Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2007 and Commission Decision 2007/275/EC.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 of 12 June 2019 to lay down detailed rules on minimum requirements for border control posts, including inspection centres, and for the format, categories and abbreviations to use for listing border control posts and control points.
Real Decreto 629/2019 of 31 October regulating the general register of establishments in the animal feed sector, the conditions for the authorisation or registration of such establishments and national points of entry, the activity of feed operators, and the National Coordination Commission for animal feed.

Obsolete legislation has been deleted deleted

For more information, visit the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación website.

4.Competent authority

The Servicio de Inspección de Sanidad Animal Veterinaria (Animal Health) carries out the control of live animals and products of animal origin not intended for human consumption, as well as pharmacological and biological products for veterinary use, both for export and for import.
This service is under the Dirección General de Sanidad de la Producción Agroalimentaria y Bienestar AnimalSubdirección General de Acuerdos Sanitarios y Control en Frontera of the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación

Endangered species control (CITES) is under the Ministerio de Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico, and is carried out by Servicio Oficial de Inspección, Vigilancia y Regulación Aduanera (SOIVRE), under the Secretaría de Estado de Comercio of the Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo..

B. PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR USE

1. Departures

The requirements, that must be fulfilled, are those defined by the third country of destination. The food products are usually accompanied by the export Official Public Health Certificate established by the Orden Ministerial of 12 May 1993 (published in BOE 21-5-93).
The following products are subject to health checks at the airport of departure: meat, meat products, fisheries products, milk, dairy products, composite products and pharmaceutical products.

For more information, visit the Ministerio de Sanidad:
https://www.sanidad.gob.es/areas/sanidadExterior/exportacion/home.htm

2. Arrivals

a) Products intended for human consumption or use Food products: These must be subject to veterinary checks at the entry airport as follows:

Products of animal origin:

When entering Community territory, and only at airports authorised as Border Control Posts and having the corresponding authorisation:
https://www.sanidad.gob.es/areas/sanidadExterior/importacion/usoConsumoHumano/puntosFronterizos/home.htm

At the time the product enters into Community territory, and only through airports authorised as Border Inspection Posts: Alicante/Alicante Elche Miguel Hernández, Almería (*), Asturias (*), Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Bilbao (*), Ciudad Real (*), Girona (*), Gran Canaria, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca (*), San Sebastián (*), Santander/Seve Ballesteros-Santander (*), Santiago/Rosalía de Castro (*), Sevilla (*), Tenerife Norte/Ciudad de La Laguna (*), Tenerife Sur, Valencia, Vigo (*), Vitoria (*) and Zaragoza (*) Border Inspection Posts temporarily suspended.

The health authorities must be notified prior to the arrival of these products at the airport.

Products of non-animal origin:

The goods referred to in Article 47 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 shall be inspected at the time of importing and only at airports authorised as Border Control Posts with the corresponding authorisation:
https://www.sanidad.gob.es/areas/sanidadExterior/importacion/usoConsumoHumano/puntosFronterizos/home.htm

Only products of non-animal origin intended for human consumption as referred to in Article 44 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 may be inspected at airports authorised as a Sanitary Control Post (PCS in Spanish).

At the time the product is imported and only through airports with an Accredited Customs Area (RAH), which are: Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Asturias (*), Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Ciudad Real (*), Girona, Gran Canaria, La Palma (*), Lanzarote/César Manrique Lanzarote (*), Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca, Santander/Seve Ballesteros-Santander, Santiago/Rosalía de Castro, Sevilla (*), Tenerife Norte/Ciudad de La Laguna (*), Tenerife Sur, Valencia, Vitoria and Zaragoza. (*) Documentary inspection only

In the case of products of plant origin intended for human consumption, the BCP must also have the corresponding designation issued by the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/agricultura/temas/comercio-exterior-vegetal/puntosdecontrolenfrontera.aspx

The importation of products of non-animal origin intended for human consumption that are listed in the Regulation 669/2009/EC shall be carried out through the following airports: Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Valencia and Zaragoza.

b) Medical goods: These shall be controlled at the moment of importation when they come from countries not belonging to the EU.

The sanitary control of products will be carried out by the Pharmaceutical Inspection in the inspection centres of the customs areas listed in Annex II of Order SPI/2136/2011, provided that the regulations for a product or group of products do not set specific customs facilities.

Customs areas accredited for pharmaceutical inspection are: A Coruña, Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Almería, Asturias, Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas BarcelonaEl Prat, Bilbao, Gran Canaria, Jerez, Girona, La Palma, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/ Costa del Sol, Melilla, Murcia/San Javier, Palma de Mallorca, Santander/Seve Ballesteros-Santander, Santiago/Rosalía de Castro, Sevilla, Reus, Tenerife Norte/Ciudad de La Laguna, Tenerife Sur, Valencia, Vigo, Vitoria and Zaragoza.

3. Basic applicable legislation

a) Food products

Real Decreto 1418/1986 of 13 July 1986 setting out the duties assigned to the Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo in relation to Foreign Health (published in BOE 10-7-86).
Regulation (EC) nº 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.
Regulation (EC) nº 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.
Delegated Regulations and Implementing Regulations of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
Orden Ministerial of 20 January 1994 laying down modalities of health checks of foreign trade products intended for human use/consumption, and the customs areas accredited to carry them out (published in BOE 4-2-94).
Commission Regulation 2019/2072 of 28 November 2019 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants.
Specific Community legislation on products, countries and establishments.
All legislation mentioned in Section A on Border Control Posts and veterinary checks.

Obsolete legislation has been deleted

For more information, visit the Ministerio de Sanidad Consumo y Bienestar Social:
https://www.sanidad.gob.es/areas/sanidadExterior/exportacion/home.htm

b) Pharmaceutical products

Orden SPI/2136/2011 of 19 July 2011 laying down modalities of border health inspection for pharmaceutical inspection and regulating the Sistema Informático de Inspección Farmacéutica de Sanidad ExteriorForeign Health Pharmaceutical Check Information Technologies System.
Real Decreto 1317/1984 of 20 June 1984 on border health inspection of medicinal products subject to foreign trade.

4. Competent authorities

The Servicio de Inspección Mercancías de Sanidad Exterior (Health Border InspectionForeign Health Goods Service) carries out health controls on products intended for human consumption or use. The Servicio de Inspección de Farmacia (Pharmaceutical Inspection Service) carries out health controls on pharmaceutical products, medicaments and by-products.
These two services are under the Subdirección General de Sanidad Exterior, Dirección General de Salud Pública y Equidad en Salud and under the Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios, respectively, Ministerio de Sanidad , Consumo y Bienestar Social.

The Servicio de Inspección de Sanidad Vegetal en Frontera (Plant Health Border Inspection Service) also carries out checks on products of plant origin intended for human consumption or not. The Servicio de Inspección de Sanidad Animal (Animal Health Service) checks products of animal origin intended for human feed for export. These two services are part of the Dirección General de Sanidad de la Producción Agroalimentaria y Bienestar Animal del Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.This service is under the Subdirección General de Acuerdos Sanitarios y Control en Frontera of the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación

C. PRODUCTS OF VEGETABLE ORIGIN NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

1. Departures

The plant health requirements for the exportation of these products are those required by the importing countries.

The national reference regulation for the export of plants and plant products is Real Decreto 387/2021, of 1 June, which regulates the official plant health certification system for the export of plants and plant products, and amends Real Decreto 58/2005, of 21 January, which adopts protective measures against the introduction and spread, within Spain and the European Community, of organisms harmful to plants or plant products, as well as for export and transit to third countries. Specifically, Article 26 of Real decreto 387/2021 establishes that plant health control actions will be carried out in general at Border Control Posts; however, they may also be carried out in centres authorised and licensed by the el Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.

2. Arrivals

Products of plant origin shall enter via airports designated as Border Control Posts with the corresponding authorisation:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/agricultura/temas/comercio-exterior-vegetal/puntosdecontrolenfrontera.aspx

The introduction of products of plant origin shall be carried out through the Plant Health Border Inspection Posts, available at the following airports: Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Almería, Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Ciudad Real, Gran Canaria, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago/Rosalía de Castro, Sevilla, Valencia, Vitoria and Zaragoza.

In the case of products of plant origin intended for human consumption, the BCP must also have a BCP or PCS authorisation for products of non-animal origin issued by the Ministerio de Sanidad:
https://www.sanidad.gob.es/areas/sanidadExterior/importacion/usoConsumoHumano/puntosFronterizos/home.htm

The importation of products of non-animal origin intended for human consumption that are listed in the Regulation 669/2009/EC shall be carried out through the following airports: Alicante/Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández, Barcelona/Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, Bilbao, Girona, Gran Canaria, Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Málaga/Costa del Sol, Santiago/Rosalía de Castro, Tenerife Sur, Valencia, Vigo, Vitoria and Zaragoza.

3. Basic legislation applicable to products of plant origin phytosanitary inspections:

Regulation (EU) nº 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on protective measures against pests of plants.
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.
Delegated Regulations and Implementing Regulations of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 of 28 November 2019 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/288 of 18 January 2024 concerning the frequency of checks on wood packaging material carrying, protecting or supporting certain commodities from certain third countries.
Orden Ministerial of the Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, of 12 March 1987, for products dispatched from/to the Canary Islands.
Orden APA/1076/2018, of 11 October, establishing phytosanitary requirements for the import or entry of wooden packaging and pallets in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 of 12 June 2019 to lay down detailed rules on minimum requirements for border control posts, including inspection centres, and for the format, categories and abbreviations to use for listing border control posts and control points.
Ley 43/2002 of 20 November 2002 on plant health.
Orden of 10 December 1998 laying down the conditions required to perform plant health checks at Border Inspection Posts, applied to plants, plant products or other goods originating from third countries.

Obsolete legislation has been deleted

For more information, visit the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación website:
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/agricultura/temas/comercio-exterior-vegetal/nuevareglamentacion.aspx

For more information, visit the Ministerio de Sanidad website:
https://www.sanidad.gob.es/areas/sanidadExterior/importacion/usoConsumoHumano/requisitos/home.htm

4. Competent authorities

The Servicio de Inspección de Sanidad Vegetal en Frontera (Fitosanitario) (Plant Health Border Inspection Service) carries out checks on products of plant origin intended for human consumption and not intended for human consumption or not.
Additionally, the el servicio de Sanidad Animal (Animal Health Service) checks products of non-animal origin intended for animal feed.
These two services are part of the Dirección General de Sanidad de la Producción Agroalimentaria y Bienestar Animal del Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.

Products of plant origin intended for human consumption shall also be inspected by the Servicio de Sanidad Exterior (External Health Service), which is under the Directorate-General for Dirección General de Salud Pública y Equidad en Salud del Ministerio de Sanidad.under the Dirección General de Salud Pública of the Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social.

The Sanidad Animal (Animal Health) service shall also control products of non-animal origin not intended for human consumption included in the Regulation 669/2009/EC. This service is under the Subdirección General de Acuerdos Sanitarios y Control en Frontera of the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación.

PRIOR NOTIFICATION

Pursuant to the provisions of Reglamento de Ejecución (EU) 2019/1013 of 16 April 2019 on prior notification of consignments of certain categories of animals and goods entering the Union, the operator responsible for a consignment falling within the categories of animals and goods referred to in Article 47 Section 1 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 shall give prior notification to the competent authority of the border control post of first arrival in the Union at least one working day before the intended arrival of the consignment.

Border health and goods quality control facilities at Spanish airports. The following abbreviations, with their associated meanings, are used in the description of these border facilities

Tables have been removed