Operational Border Target Operating Model information

Given the recent General Election, the Defra Biosecurity, Borders and Trade team have been working hard to support new ministers in getting quickly up-to-speed with the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).

During this time, it is important that businesses and traders continue to follow the existing BTOM processes when importing goods into Great Britain.

This includes (but is not limited to): getting health certificates for medium and high-risk commodities, submitting import notifications on IPAFFS, presenting for import checks when you are informed to do so.

We will continue to provide email updates and engagement opportunities as we progress BTOM discussions and decisions with the new ministerial team.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.
 

The rest of this email provides operational information updates on the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).

It includes:

• Use of Verifiable PDF Health Certificates
• Notifying the correct risk category for your commodity
• Guidance for products of animal origin (POAO) for human consumption categorised as low risk under the BTOM
• Resources to help you comply
• Contact points for urgent BTOM queries   

Use of Verifiable PDF Health Certificates

As of 31st January 2024, verifiable PDFs can be used for live animals and POAO imports from EU and EFTA countries where the PDF health certificate can be electronically verified.

These certificates must be created directly in either TRACES or an equivalent EU / EFTA Member State’s National SPS Export System. The PDF certificate downloaded from TRACES or other approved EU/EFTA country systems must be uploaded to IPAFFS. A list of nations we are accepting Verifiable PDF certificates from is available at Countries Great Britain will accept validated PDF GB health certificates from - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

If the exporter creates a GB health certificate as a verifiable PDF using TRACES or another EU/EFTA Member State system, they will not need to send the original (paper) health certificate with the consignment.

They must send the official, verifiable PDF certificate to the importer once it has been signed by the competent authority. The importer is responsible for creating the IPAFFS notification and uploading the verifiable PDF.

Please be aware that the easement period for sending scanned copies of health certificates, including original paper certificates and verifiable PDF’s is temporary and will be ending at the end of this month.

Upon its expiry, if a trader uploads a scanned copy of a health certificate, they will be required to present the original paper certificate or verifiable PDF to the Border Control Post (BCP) in advance of arrival or to ensure it accompanies the consignment on arrival.

Please note, if the original paper certificate is not available for checks on entry (where a verifiable PDF is not provided) the goods will be detained until the original paper certificate is provided.  To avoid unnecessary administrative burden and allow for a smoother flow through the BCP traders are strongly encouraged to adopt verifiable PDF health certificates today.

If a paper certificate is used it must bear the signature and stamp of the certifying officer. Verifiable PDF certificates must bear a valid digital signature. You must also check attestations are completed in accordance with the model certificate 'notes for completion' and all non-applicable attestations are correctly deleted or omitted from the certificate.

Deletions carried out by hand must be initialled and stamped. If completed electronically as a verifiable PDF, the signature and stamp per page is sufficient. 

Notifying the correct risk category for your commodity

The UK’s risk-based approach to sanitary and phytosanitary controls introduced by the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), means that proportionate controls are in place based on the biosecurity risk (low, medium, high) of the products and their country of origin. It’s important that businesses are able to categorise their products correctly and meet the import requirements. This includes filling in the Common Health Entry Document import notification correctly. 
 
You must notify the correct risk category for animal products and plants. This will reduce any unnecessary inspections on your consignment.

There are more information and tools to help you on GOV.UK.

Checklist for products of animal origin (POAO) for human consumption categorised as low risk under the BTOM

We’ve recently heard from businesses that they would like more information to help them decide whether their product is low risk. We’ve put together this checklist to help you check if a product can meet the requirements to be imported as low risk under the BTOM.

Please note that low risk goods must enter GB via a port/airport with a Border Control Post (BCP) designated for that type of product. They are not subject to checks on a routine basis but may be called to the BCP or checked at destination by competent authorities for compliance checks.

If your consignment does not ‘tick all the boxes’ below, it may not be eligible to import as low risk or may not be eligible to import into GB at all.

If you need further advice, please see the contact section below.
 

• Check here for imports from EU to GB
• Check here for imports from non-EU to GB

2) Does the POAO originate from the EU and/or one of the non-EU ‘permitted countries’ that have been subject to a risk assessment under BTOM?

• Check if the country of origin is a 'permitted country'

3) Does the POAO come from an approved country or region thereof and meet the relevant requirements set out in the list for the commodity/country concerned?

• Check here for Third countries’ lists: EU and EFTA or non-EU countries

4) Does the POAO come from a country with an approved residue control plan (RCP), where applicable, for the product being exported to GB? 

• Check here if the country has an approved RCP: EU countries or non-EU countries

5) Does the product/POAO come, as applicable, from an establishment approved to export to GB? (Honey and insects do not have to come from an approved establishment. Composite Products do not need to be dispatched from an approved establishment unless that establishment also processed the POAO component(s).  

• Click here for list of GB approved establishments approved to export to GB

6) Even though your product does not need an export health certificate signed by an official veterinarian/authorised officer, it still needs to comply with the relevant animal and public health requirements. These are set out in the relevant health certificate for the product. Low risk goods must be accompanied by a commercial document.  

• Further information on import requirements is also available on our General and commodity specific Import Information Notes which provide a summary of the relevant rules. 

Resources to help you comply

Our detailed guidance has been updated with information on how to comply with your new legal responsibilities for:     
 
importing live animals and animal products to Great Britain 
importing plants and plant products from the EU to Great Britain
importing plants and plant products from non-EU countries to Great Britain
 
Read our Leaflets to help businesses prepare for a new approach to importing goods to GB under the BTOM.
 
Visit our YouTube channel and watch recordings of our previous webinars for traders.

Contact points for urgent border target operating model (BTOM) queries

Any urgent BTOM/import queries for plants and plant products across England and Wales should be directed to the Animal and 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      
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.
 
If you need technical help with IPAFFS you should call the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) helpline on 0330 041 6999 or email APHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.uk