Get ready for new UK import controls commencing from 31 January 2024

NEW UK IMPORT CONTROLS FOR AGRI-FOOD GOODS COMMENCING FROM 31 JANUARY 2024

If your business exports agri-food goods to GB or via GB landbridge to Europe are you ready for the new UK import control requirements which come into force from 31 January 2024?

What changes are coming for Irish exporters of agri-food goods to Great Britain (GB) and for those transiting GB landbridge for export to Europe? (find out more here)

From 31 January 2024

• Requirement for the pre-notification of all (low, medium and high risk) imports of animal products and high and medium risk plant products from Ireland to GB by your GB importer. If you’re moving goods via GB landbridge pre-notification is to be made by a GB based representative.
• Export health certification required for EU imports of medium risk animal and plant products. Requirement for transit health certificates for medium risk animal products moving across GB landbridge.
• These requirements do not apply to Northern Irish goods which are designated as Qualifying Northern Irish Goods.

How can you prepare for these changes? (links in underlined text below provide further guidance on these issues)

• Ensure your business is registered as an approved exporter on EU TRACES.
• Know your products UK risk-category to confirm which UK requirements apply to your goods– use these online tools to find the risk category of your commodity.
• Be clear about who is the Person/Entity in your supply chain designated as responsible for the import of the consignment in GB or for the consignment moving via GB landbridge.  The designated operator responsible for the consignment in GB must be an entity with a physical UK address. This Person/Entity will be required to submit import pre-notifications on the UK IPAFFS import system.
• Engage with your local Irish competent authority supervisory team (DAFM, HSE, SFPA or local authority veterinary service) to confirm if certification to GB or for transit movements via GB is needed for your products and prepare for the provision of health certificates and/or phytosanitary certificates as required by UK.
• You may need to get a UK Government account to be able to use the UK’s Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to generate a Goods Movement Reference (GMR). From 31 January 2024 a GMR will be required to allow export consignments board ferry/plane in Ireland for movement to GB. A GMR requires a UK customs import declaration to be completed and submitted in advance of movement to GB.

Information Leaflets

The UK Government has published a series of information leaflets which will prove useful for

• importers in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) 
• exporters in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

1. Border control posts - plants and plant products

This leaflet (see here) is for businesses that import plants and plant products to Great Britain. It explains what happens when your goods are checked at a border control post.

2. Composite food products decision trees
These decision trees (see here) are for businesses that import food from the EU to Great Britain. They help you check whether your product is a composite food product and subject to official controls at a border control post

3. Health certificates
This leaflet (see here) is for businesses:

• in Great Britain that import live animals and animal products from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
• in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland that export live animals and animal products to Great Britain

It explains what a health certificate is, how to get one, and what you need to do with it

4. Import notifications using IPAFFS
This leaflet (see here) is for businesses that import live animals, animal products, plants or plant products to Great Britain. It explains how to give advance notice of your consignment to authorities in Great Britain using IPAFFS (import of products, animals, food and feed system).

5. Phytosanitary certificates
This leaflet (see here) is for businesses that export plants and plant products from the EU, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to Great Britain. It explains what a phytosanitary certificate is, how to get one, what you need to do with it

Further guidance for importers can be found at the following links:
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