Delays to introduction of import controls from the EU into Great Britain

On Tuesday September 14, 2021 the UK government made the decision to further delay the introduction of import controls, affecting security filings and controls on imports of food and animal product imports from the EU into Great Britain.

Under the original timeline, controls were set to be implemented from October 2021, however, introduction of measures will now only begin to be introduced from 1st January 2022 with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods checks coming in on 1st July 2022. Under the phased approach to border controls, traders were able to postpone their import entries for six months with full entry requirements being brought in on January 1st 2022, this timeline remains unchanged. Furthermore, Safety & Security declarations that were set to be introduced from 1st January 2022 for EU origin goods has been postponed until 1st July 2022 under the new pragmatic timetable;

It is worth noting that from the 1st January 2022 the following will be implemented as part of the phased import border control approach:

• Import Declarations – required for all goods, the deferred entry easement can no longer be used
• Customs Checks – begin on all imports from the EU – checks are not currently being conducted as part of the phased border approach
• GVMS – goes live for all EU imports into GB transiting via non-inventory linked ro-ro ferry ports
• Pre-notification requirements and documentary checks – relating to agri-foods including products of animal origin, certain by-products, and high risk food not of animal origin

The remaining controls will be phased in according to the following timetable:

• The new requirements for Export Health Certificates, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
• Phytosanitary Certificates and physical checks on SPS goods at Border Control Posts, due to be introduced on 1 January 2022, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
• Safety and Security declarations on imports will be required as of 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022.

The Minister of State at the UK Cabinet office, Lord Frost, said:

“We want businesses to focus on their recovery from the pandemic rather than have to deal with new requirements at the border, which is why we’ve set out a pragmatic new timetable for introducing full border controls.”

“Businesses will now have more time to prepare for these controls which will be phased in throughout 2022.”

“The government remains on track to deliver the new systems, infrastructure and resourcing required.”