The UK government has today announced that no further import controls on EU goods will be introduced this year for goods moving from the EU to Great Britain (GB).
Read the full statement here.
Key highlights:
- “No further import controls on EU goods will be introduced this year. Businesses can stop their preparations for July now. We will publish a Target Operating Model in the autumn that will set out our new regime of border import controls and will target the end of 2023 as the revised introduction date for our controls regime, which will deliver on our promise to create the world’s best border on our shores”
- Controls which have already been introduced will remain in place
- UK will focus on technology and options to digitise its border
- UK government will publish a Target Operating Model in the autumn of 2022 which will set out the new regime of border import controls and will target the end of 2023 as the revised introduction date for controls regime.
Specifically, the following controls which were planned for introduction from July 2022 will now not be introduced:
- A requirement for further Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks on EU imports currently at the 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
- The Border Operating Model will be updated to reflect this.
What does this mean?
- Goods moving from the EU to GB can continue to do so on the basis of the arrangements that currently apply. We await clarification from DAFM to determine if the IPAFFS pre-notification position on exports from the Island of Ireland is also extended (has not been required since 1st January 2022)
- While customs controls were introduced for imports into GB from EU countries, Irish companies have been able to take advantage of a temporary postponement of these controls on Irish exports to GB. Irish companies will therefore welcome the postponement of the SPS controls now along with this.
This is great news for Irish exporters and provides additional time to prepare in particular for full GB import controls.
Should you wish to discuss your food import/export requirements, we would be delighted to assist you. Please contact myself (clynch@bdo.ie) or Marie Farrell (mfarrell@bdo.ie) to find out more.
Subscribe to receive the latest BDO News and Insights
Please fill out the following form to access the download.