/ By tjchinafreight ivy / Shipping

Update on Brexit import controls
Update on Brexit import controls

The UK government has announced an updated approach to import controls to help ease current cost-of-living pressures, and has suggested that the remaining import controls on EU goods will not be imposed this year. Instead, traders will continue to move their goods from the EU to the UK as they do now.

The government will review how these remaining controls will be implemented and further details will be published in the new control regime, which is targeted to come into effect by the end of 2023.

Specifically, the following controls planned to be implemented from July 2022 will no longer be in place, they are:

  • Require further Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) inspection of EU imports currently at destination for transfer to Border Control Points (BCPs)
  • Safety and Security Declaration Requirements for Imported Products in the EU
  • Requirements for further health certification and SPS inspection of EU imports
  • Ban and limit the import of chilled meat from the EU

The controls that have been introduced will remain the same, they are:

  • The highest risk imports of animals, animal products, plants and plant products will continue to apply to customs controls already in place
  • Safety and security checks introduced last year remain in effect as part of existing customs controls introduced in 2021
  • If businesses import goods into the UK from other non-EU countries, they are still legally obliged to submit an S&S Entry Summary Statement (ENS) for these movements

Regarding safety and security statements (also known as ENS documents or "EUICS"), the current requirements are:

  • UK and Northern Ireland to EU = EU requires ENS
  • Rest of world to EU = EU requires ENS
  • EU to UK and Northern Ireland = not needed, postponed now
  • Rest of World (non-EU) to GB and Northern Ireland = GB/Northern Ireland requires ENS
  • GB to Northern Ireland = ENS required for Northern Ireland
  • Northern Ireland to GB = GB No ENS required

A GB EORI number is required for any UK port application.

Any declaration at EU ports requires an EORI number from the EU customs authority.