Are You Ready for the New EU Import Checks across the UK?

As proposals for new UK border checks have now been announced, cargo-partner is reminding importers to get ready and be prepared. 

New import checks for all goods coming into the UK have been expected since the Brexit trade deal. Now the UK Government has provided a draft Border Target Operating Model, setting out a new approach to importing into the UK that is expected to be progressively introduced from the end of October 2023.

The  Border  Target  Operating  Model  proposes  a  new  approach  to  security  controls  (applying  to  all  imports),  and  Sanitary  and  Phytosanitary  controls  (applying  to  imports  of  live  animals,  germinal  products,  animal  products,  plants  and  plant  products)  at  the  border.  It  sets  out  how  controls  will  be  delivered  through  simplification, digitization and the UK’s new Single Trade Window.

The cargo-partner teams in the UK and Ireland offer dedicated customs clearance services and are experienced in connecting shipments across the Irish Sea, across the English Channel and between Great Britain and the rest of Europe, so we’re always up-to-date on the latest customs checks. Our customs experts will be happy to assist you with documentation, duty management, and trade compliance.

Key dates for implementation are as follows:

31 October 2023
The introduction of health certification on imports of medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU.

31 January 2024
The introduction of documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks on medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU. Imports of Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods from the rest of the world (RoW) will begin to benefit from the new risk based model.

31 October 2024
Safety and Security (S&S) declarations for EU imports will come into force. The dataset for imports from the RoW trade will also be reduced. The UK Single Trade Window will be switched on removing duplication of different pre-arrival datasets and streamline border processes by allowing data sharing.

For further information, please contact our cargo-partner teams in the United Kingdom and Ireland.