Preparing for new UK Import Controls

Updated 28 April 2022

The UK Government has announced the postponement of further import controls planned from July 2022. Specifically the following controls will not be introduced in 2022 and the new target date for introduction is the end of 2023:

• A requirement for further Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks on EU imports currently at destination to be moved to Border Control Post (BCP).
• A requirement for safety and security declarations on EU imports.
• A requirement for further health certification and SPS checks for EU imports.
• Prohibitions and restrictions on the import of chilled meats from the EU.

It is important to note that all existing controls, including those introduced on 1 January 2022, will remain in place.

Four vital things to know about the changes on 1 January 2022

• Hauliers who have not yet registered for the Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) or applied for a GB Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number should do so immediately. Information on how to obtain an EORI number is available here. Information on how to register for GVMS is available here.
• Since 1 January 2022 all goods leaving GB by ferry must register on GVMS before departure. This applies to goods coming to Ireland and to traders using the Landbridge in either direction. Failing to engage with GVMS and other UK systems will disrupt your trade and may lead to severe delays, including the possibility of being refused permission to enter ports or board ships.
• Postponement of the new requirement for pre-notification of SPS products ONLY APPLIES to those exporters not already subject to existing pre-notification requirements. Existing EU requirements will continue to apply.
• Where a transit begins in another EU Member State and moves through GB to a destination in Ireland, pre-notification of all SPS products (POAO and ABP) is required on the Imports of Products, Animal, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) at least four hours before the products arrive into Great Britain (GB). All plants and plant products categorised as ‘regulated and notifiable’ will need to be pre-notified on either  IPAFFS or the PEACH system. There is also a requirement to inform GB authorities by email once the consignment has left GB. All consignments must be registered on GVMS.

• On 28 April 2022, the UK Government announced the postponement of further import controls planned from July 2022 for goods from the EU. Specifically, the following controls will not be introduced in 2022 and the new target date for introduction is the end of 2023:

- A requirement for further Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks on EU imports currently at destination to be moved to Border Control Post (BCP).

- A requirement for safety and security declarations on EU imports.

- A requirement for further health certification and SPS checks for EU imports.

- Prohibitions and restrictions on the import of chilled meats from the EU.

• This means that existing arrangements will remain in place for goods moving from Ireland to Great Britain until further notice.
• On 15 December 2021, the UK Government announced that it was postponing, until further notice, planned UK requirements for imports from Ireland that had been due to begin on 1 January 2022.
• As such the requirement for compliance with full UK import formalities, including customs declarations and controls, is not be a pre-boarding requirement for ferries going from Ireland to Great Britain at this time
• Exporters of agri food products moving goods from Ireland to Great Britain, who are not already subject to pre-notification requirements, do not have to pre-notify UK authorities on UK systems such as the Imports of Products, Animal, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) or PEACH for plant and plant products at this time.
• However, it is important to note that the UK introduced the new import requirements outlined below for all inbound goods from other EU Member States from 1 January 2022.
• This includes the requirement for pre-notification of agri food products on either the Imports of Products, Animal, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) or PEACH (for plants and plant products).
• As a result, Irish importers moving goods across the landbridge should note that these new requirements apply to all goods moving from other EU countries to Ireland via Great Britain since 1 January 2022. This is in addition to the existing requirement to move such goods under the transit procedure and to engage with EU systems such as the Pre-Boarding Notification system in Ireland and the SI Brexit system in France
• Further information on the new requirements for goods moving from other EU Member States to Ireland via Great Britain can be found here.
• These planned controls for goods moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain have been postponed, and further UK controls are not planned for introduction until the end of 2023 at the earliest.
• Existing requirements, such as full EU export formalities and the requirement to use the transit procedure when moving goods through the UK to the EU, in place since 1 January 2021, will continue to apply. This includes the requirement to register the details of all the Transit Accompanying Document on the vehicle onto the UK’s Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) before the goods can leave GB.
• Current requirements for export declarations, which must include safety and security (EXS) data, will remain unchanged for goods and empty vehicles leaving the UK. However, all exports by ferry from the UK are required to use the GVMS system since 1 January 2022 before departing from the UK to the EU, including Ireland.

Since 1 January 2021, the UK has been outside the seamless trading environment of the EU Single Market and Customs Union. New customs formalities and other regulatory requirements now apply to goods imported into the EU from the UK, excluding Northern Ireland.

Similarly, new customs formalities and other regulatory requirements apply to exports from the EU, including Ireland, to the UK, excluding Northern Ireland.

No new procedures apply to goods moving between Ireland and Northern Ireland because of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland.

On 15 December 2021, the UK Government announced that the planned introduction of checks on UK imports from Ireland on 1 January 2022 would be postponed and that the current arrangements remain in place for goods moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain until further notice. It is important to note that the UK did introduce new requirements for inbound goods from all other EU Member States including goods transported from EU countries to Ireland via Great Britain from 1 January 2022. More information from the UK Government is available here.

Customs controls

Since 1 January 2021, EU exporters have to file an EU export declaration before goods leave the EU. The UK Government has put an easement in place allowing UK import declarations to be lodged up to 175 days after the goods enter the UK.

Since 1 January 2022 UK import declarations for goods moving from EU countries (other than Ireland) can no longer be delayed and instead must be submitted prior to the departure of the goods from the EU.

In most cases, particularly where Roll-On Roll-Off ferry services are used to move goods, the Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) must be used. Hauliers must obtain a GB Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number and register to use GVMS. The unique Goods Movement Reference number associated with the completed GVMS entry must be provided to the ferry operator in the EU in order to obtain permission to board the ferry. The GVMS must contain all of the import declaration Movement Reference Numbers (MRNs) (or transit MRNs if the goods are moving under the transit procedure) of the individual consignments contained within the vehicle.

The planned introduction of controls for goods moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain have been postponed and further UK controls are not planned for introduction until the end of 2023 at the earliest.

Information on how to obtain an EORI number is available here. Information on how to register for GVMS is available here. Further information on when these controls will be introduced for Irish exporters will be provided by the UK Government.

Export declarations, which must include safety and security (EXS) data, have been required for goods leaving the UK since 1 January 2021. EXS declarations have been required for empty vehicles leaving the UK since 1 October 2021. These requirements remain unchanged. However, since 1 January 2022, all exports from the UK are required to use the GVMS system before departing from the UK by ferry to the EU, including Ireland.

SPS controls

Certain limited categories of plant and animal products, which the UK considers to be high risk (e.g. live animals, germinal products and high risk plants and plant products), already require pre-notification to the UK authorities (using its systems such as Imports of Products, Animal, Food and Feed System IPAFFS or PEACH) by the UK importer, and an Export Certificate which must accompany the consignment being exported.

On 15 December the UK Government confirmed that it has also postponed planned new import requirements on all remaining products of animal origin, certain animal by-products and high-risk food not of animal origin, and remaining regulated plant and plant products moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain and moving from Ireland over the landbridge to the rest of the EU.

However, all agri food products moving from EU member states (other than Ireland) to or through the UK are required to pre-notify the UK authorities of such consignments on systems such as IPAFFs or PEACH since 1 January 2022. More information on IPAFFs is available from the UK Government here.

For pre-notification requirements for goods of animal origin moving across the UK landbridge, please see below.

On 28 April 2022, the UK Government announced the postponement of further import controls planned from July 2022. Specifically, the following controls will not be introduced in 2022 and the new target date for introduction is the end of 2023:

• A requirement for further Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks on EU imports currently at destination to be moved to Border Control Post (BCP).
• A requirement for safety and security declarations on EU imports.
• A requirement for further health certification and SPS checks for EU imports.
• Prohibitions and restrictions on the import of chilled meats from the EU.

It is important to note that all existing controls, including those introduced on 1 January 2022, will remain in place. See here for more information on exporting agri-food products to the UK from Ireland.

See herefor more information on exporting agri-food products to the UK from Ireland.

Detailed information on the UK’s Border Operating Model is available here.

Detailed information on the landbridge is available here.

Moving goods IE-GB-EU

All current requirements for goods moving from IE to the EU through the landbridge continue to apply after 1 January 2022. This includes the requirement to move under the transit procedure and engage with the Pre-Boarding Notification requirements when moving by RoRo ferry before leaving Ireland. The details of the Transit Accompanying Document on the vehicle must also be registered on the UK’s Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) before leaving Ireland and again before departing from GB.

Since 1 January 2022, all products of animal origin, plant products and low risk animal by-products that are not already subject to pre-notification requirements, moving from the island of Ireland to other EU countries via Great Britain are exempt from the requirements to pre-notify the UK authorities until further notice. You do not need to pre-notify these consignments.

Moving goods EU-GB-IE

Since 1 January 2022, all products moving from EU countries to the island of Ireland via Great Britain need to be accompanied by a GVMS Goods Movement Reference Number (GMR). As was the case previously, they also need to be accompanied by a transit declaration.

All transits moving through the UK and departing by ferry are required to use the GVMS system from 1 January 2022 before departing from the UK to the EU, including Ireland.

Since 1 January 2022, all products of animal origin moving from EU countries to the island of Ireland via Great Britain need to be pre-notified on IPAFFS at least four hours before they arrive into Great Britain.

You also need to inform GB authorities once the consignment has left GB by emailing GBtransit-notification@defra.gov.uk with the subject line ‘confirmation that a consignment has left Great Britain territory’.

The email will need to include the following information:

• IPAFFS notification reference number
• details of means of transport
• date consignment has left GB territory
• copy of commercial documents (bill of lading or airway bill)

The UK have indicated that they will publish a Target Operating Model in Autumn 2022. This Target Operating Model will set out the new regime of border import controls and will target the end of 2023 as the revised introduction date for the controls.

In the meantime detailed information on the UK's Border Operating Model is available here. The UK Government has set out its general guidance for EU businesses wishing to export goods into the UK on the following website. Additional information on the UK import certification requirements is provided on the following webpage. The responsible UK authority is the Animal and Plant Health Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This webpage will be updated as further guidance is issued by the UK authorities.

The UK Customs Authorities have also provided a number of online videos to assist businesses with UK customs clearance and importing into the UK.

You can contact the UK authorities on + 44 300 322 9434 for:

• General advice on GVMS
• Help moving goods at the border
• Problems registering for GVMS
• Error messages when creating GMRs
• 24/7 help for urgent issues preventing goods progressing through the border

Opening hours are 08:00 - 22:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 - 16:00 Weekends. Select Option 1 for urgent issues outside of these hours.

A range of Government supports, including advisory, upskilling and financial supports are available to assist businesses in responding to the challenges of Brexit. For further information, or to get advice, please visit the following page.

Advisory & Upskilling Supports

A number of webinars, including webinars specific to the UK Import Controls are being run by the Irish Government or by the UK Government, please visit the website of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for further information.

Bord Bia offers training in customs and tariffs, supply chain management, and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements tailored for the needs of the food and drink sector. For more information, see its Brexit Hub.

Bord Iascaigh Mhara helps to develop the Irish Seafood Industry and has further information on its Brexit Hub.

Financial Supports

A range of financial supports are also in place to assist businesses in responding to the challenges of Brexit. These supports include;

• The €100 million Capital Investment Scheme for Marketing of Agricultural Produce is a stimulus package is designed to strengthen and improve the resilience of primary food processing companies. The aim of this fund is to advance product and/or market diversification among primary food processing companies and strengthen the resilience of companies vulnerable to the external trading environment. Eligible companies are invited to submit applications from now until the closing date on Thursday 15th April, 2021.

• The SBCI Brexit Impact Loan Scheme provides low-cost loans to eligible Brexit-impacted businesses to fund working capital or investments. Loans range from €25,000 to €1.5 million for terms up to 6 years, with loans up to €500,000 being unsecured.

• The Microfinance Ireland Brexit Business Loan provides up to €25,000 to businesses whose turnover has fallen (or is likely to fall) by 15% or more, or where a business has a short-term cashflow need as a result of Brexit. Loans range from six months to three years.

• For supported businesses, Enterprise Ireland also provides the Post-Brexit Advisory Support which helps businesses to create a strong action plan and recognise opportunities and risks that the new trading environment in the UK may pose to business, and the Evolve Strategic Planning Grant.

• Local Enterprise Offices also have a range of supports available, including its series of interactive online workshops to Prepare your Business for Customs and its Brexit Mentor Programme.

For further information on these and other supports, please click here.