Some businesses this week will welcome the news that the UK Government have refreshed the timetable for the implementing full customs controls for goods being imported from the EU to the UK. Acknowledging the challenges that businesses have faced during the global pandemic and the adjustments that many firms have been required to make, the revised timetable is set to give businesses more time to adjust to new processes.
January 2022 and July 2022 – the dates to remember
Full customs declarations and controls will be introduced on 1 January 2022 as previously announced, although safety and security declarations will now not be required until 1 July 2022.
Recent supply chain challenges and complex new requirements, particularly for those importing products on animal origin are adding to an already difficult time that business has been experiencing, and so, the government has decided to give businesses of all goods more time to adjust. Given that there are developed responsibilities on agri-food controls, there is more work to be done and close work required between the Devolved Administrations on the implementation of this new timetable.
What’s different?
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Safety and Security declarations on imports:
Most relevant to ADS members, safety and security declarations on imports will now be required as of 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022. Full customs declarations and controls will be introduced on 1 January 2022 as previously announced.
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Pre-notification of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods:
Less relevant but still significant to those businesses who are experiencing the most change because of the introduction of new requirements, the requirements for pre-notification of SPS goods, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 January 2022.
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Export Health Certificates:
Finally, also less relevant is the postponement of the new requirements for Export Health Certificates, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021 but will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
What else should you know?
ADS will continue to blog with any updates or changes to customs procedures and implantation as a result of the new UK border. You can read our previous blogs on the topic. The updates from July 2021 are available here, although the announcements this week replace the timelines set out for import controls and more information is still available on the ADS Brexit Hub.
