The UK government has announced that the second and third phases of the border control implementation has been delayed

The second phase relating to the control of certain categories of EU goods, which include plant and animal products, was due to come into effect on the 1st April with the final phase being introduced on the 1st July for all goods and full controls. 

Due to a combination of the expected demand of food products to increase following the opening of hospitality and many businesses not being prepared whilst the focus is firmly focused on recovery from the economic shock of COVID, the UK government has now re-set the EU - UK timetable to take some pressure off businesses that are already struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The revised timetable for the introduction of control will be as follows:

• Pre-notification requirements for Products of Animal Origin (POAO), certain animal by-products (ABP), and High Risk Food Not Of Animal Origin (HRFNAO) will not be required until 1 October 2021. Export Health Certificate requirements for POAO and certain ABP will come into force on the same date.
• Customs import declarations will still be required, but the option to use the deferred declaration scheme, including submitting supplementary declarations up to six months after the goods have been imported, has been extended to 1 January 2022.
• Safety and Security Declarations for imports will not be required until 1 January 2022.
• Physical SPS checks for POAO, certain ABP, and HRFNAO will not be required until 1 January 2022. At that point they will take place at Border Control Posts.
• Physical SPS checks on high risk plants will take place at Border Control Posts, rather than at the place of destination as now, from 1 January 2022.
• Pre-notification requirements and documentary checks, including phytosanitary certificates will be required for low risk plants and plant products, and will be introduced from 1 January 2022.
• From March 2022, checks at Border Control Posts will take place on live animals and low risk plants and plant products

The announcement was made via a press release from the UK Government, full release available here