Government announce pause on new border controls planned for July

The government has announced by Written Ministerial Statement that the remaining import controls on EU goods due to be introduced in July will no longer be introduced this year. Instead, traders will continue to move their goods from the EU to GB as they do now so businesses can stop their preparations for the planned July implementation. The following controls will therefore not be introduced currently:

• 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.

HMRC will publish a Target Operating Model in the Autumn that 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 regime, as part of the UK strategy to create the world’s best border. Work will continue with industry on creating a safe, secure and efficient process for dealing with EU imports. This will build on existing work already taking place, including the UK Single Trade Window which teams in HMRC have been focussed on to deliver as part of the 2025 Border Strategy.

The next JCCC meeting is on 9 May so if you have any feedback for the CIOT representatives to raise, please contact [email protected] with ‘Border Controls’ in the title.