Whilst full customs border check on imports will begin on January 1, 2022, October 1st 2021 see the first significant change in procedures affecting and businesses importing food, drink and other goods from the EU into the UK. This is Phase 1.
Are you aware and ready?
The UK imports around 60% of our fruit, vegetables and cheese and over 50% of the wine we consume from the EU.
From October 1st there is a new requirement for health certificates and a CHED PP (Common Health Entry Document) for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) products such as meat, cheese and eggs. This also includes animal by-products.
Import of Products of Animal Origin (POAO), some Animal By-Products (ABP) and High Risk Food Not Of Animal Origin (HRFNAO) must be pre-notified, via the Import Of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS).
Many importers and organisations in the freight industry believe that EU-based suppliers are not sufficiently prepared for the new rules and have incorrectly interpreted the government’s phasing in of customs checks to mean that the UK is adopting a relaxed approach.
This is not the case.
Importers have been required to keep internal records of all imports since the start of 2021.
DEFRA has published information as to how these certificates must be completed.
HMRC has recently written to more than 160,000 businesses reminding them of the changes. The letters offer guidance and links for further information, stating: “If you are found to be deliberately non-compliant you may lose the option of delaying future import declarations and will have to declare goods at the time of import. We may also take action.”
Further changes to customs procedures will also take place in January and March 2022.