Information to help you comply with the changes
This email provides information on both what you need to do to comply now and when the additional changes are implemented.
This email includes:
- A request for your help in measuring trader readiness for 30 April
- Information about border control posts and charges including the Common User Charge
- Information about import notifications and derogation requests
- A reminder about getting your CHED import notification and customs declaration right
- Updated information about compound and composite products
- Information about who to contact with queries about your imports from 30 April
- An updated summary of common errors
- Resources to help you comply with the controls
How can Defra help ensure you’re ready for 30 April?
Please take a few minutes to tell us how ready you are for the introduction of border checks and what Defra can do to support you in the two weeks leading to Go Live.
Start
Border control posts and charges
Defra have recently published a list of operators that have applied for designation of a new border control post along with information about charges including the common user charge rates and how they will apply from 30 April.
Read Defra's information on Border Control Posts (BCP’s) and charges for importing live animals, animal products, plants and plant products
Common User Charge rates – billing and invoices
Defra have updated their guidance on Common User Charge rates today on Gov.UK to include information on billing requirements and invoices. The guidance provides examples of how the common user charge will be calculated and further information on how to arrange payment of the charge by importers or their agents.
Import notifications and derogation requests
The requirement for IPAFFS prenotifications to be submitted one working day ahead of a consignment’s arrival in GB is an existing requirement for goods from the EU and non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods from the island of Ireland. Traders are strongly encouraged to submit their import notifications as early as possible to enable any issues to be resolved prior to their arrival.
From 30 April when controls at the border are introduced, importers should contact the nominated Port Health Authority (PHA) to request a derogation from 24 hours to reduce the pre-notification window to a minimum of 4 hours if, by exception, they are unable to meet this requirement.
Some PHA’s may be able to accommodate a reduction from 24 hours to a minimum of a 4-hour prenotification window but this will be considered on a case-by-case basis for each consignment.
For plants and plant products for goods arriving by air and RoRo IPAFFS pre-notifications should be submitted 4 hours ahead of the goods arrival in GB. All other modes of transport must provide an IPAFFS pre-notification with one working day.
CHED import notification and customs declarations – a reminder
From 30 April, HMRC/Defra systems will cross-check the CHED import notification and customs declaration for each consignment of goods subject to SPS controls imported from EU countries. This is already in place for non-EU countries.
To avoid the consignment being directed to a BCP when it may not need to attend, the CHED import notification reference and commodity codes must be consistent between the notification and the customs declaration. Follow these steps:
- Submit the import notification using IPAFFS before your customs agent submits the customs declaration using Customs Declaration Service.
- Use the new Copy function to copy the CHED reference and customs Doc code in the correct format for the customs declaration.
- Send to your customs agent together with a PDF copy of the import notification. Ask them to double check the commodity codes are the same in the customs declaration. They should also check that there are no special characters in the description of goods field (Data Element 6/8).
- Work with your customs agent to fix any errors shown on CDS or IPAFFS before the consignment reaches the port of departure, to avoid it being directed to a BCP when it may not need to attend.
Importing compound and composite products
Defra have updated their information about compound products. Find out what compound products are, and how to import or move them from the EU and Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
For more information about composite products read Defra's guidance Import composite products from the EU to Great Britain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You can also use Defra's decision tree to find out if your product is a composite product.
Queries about your import from 30 April 2024
From 30 April any urgent BTOM/import queries for plants and plant products across England & Wales should be directed to the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA), by email, in the first instance: phsi-importers@apha.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can contact them by telephone: +44 (0) 3000 200 301
From 30 April any urgent BTOM/import queries for animal products should be directed to the Port Health Authority (PHA) at your nominated Border Control Post (BCP).
Find your PHA contact details at your nominated BCP on this map.
Read Defra's summary of common errors
Read Defra's summary of common errors that have been identified through the documentary checks undertaken since the import controls were implemented on 31 January. Ensuring you do not repeat these common errors can help reduce the need to undergo in-person documentary checks at the border.
|
