Please be reminded of the new import controls coming into force from 30 April 2024.
See below a reminder issued by Defra with supporting information what needs to be done to be compliant and avoid disruption to your business and supply chain.
New import controls have been introduced and further changes will come into effect from 30 April 2024.
From 30 April 2024 traders must:
- Ensure goods arrive through an appropriately designated Border Control Post (BCP) or Control Point (CP) for your commodity type
- If called, present the consignment for documentary, physical and identification inspections at the BCP or CP
These requirements will apply to EU and non-qualifying Northern Ireland Goods entering GB from the island of Ireland no earlier than 31 October 2024, with the precise date to be confirmed.
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 covers:
- Trader survey
- PEACH to IPAFFS transition
- Import notifications and customs declarations
- Scanned copies of export health certificates
- Resources to help you comply with the controls
Trader survey:
Tell us how confident you are that your organisation will be ready for 30 April and what we can do to support.
PEACH TO IPAFFS Transition – 1 week until PEACH Closure
Closure of the PEACH System to all users
As of Monday 8 April 2024, current users of the PEACH system will no longer be able to log onto PEACH, therefore it will not be possible to submit import pre-notifications using this system. You must register for the IPAFFS system and start using IPAFFS now.
Importers must be registered with a UK address within IPAFFS to ensure they can submit import pre-notifications. Please visit this link if you need to register for IPAFFS.
To ensure full registration information is provided, please ensure that links to an agent (if required) and address book are up to date and ready to use for your import notification.
IPAFFS Training
Start using and familiarising yourself with the IPAFFS system now – don’t leave it until it’s too late. To support your transition from PEACH to IPAFFS we continue to hold weekly 1-hour training sessions that provide a live walkthrough of the new process. Please register for a time that suits you via the links below.
Invitation to register and submit notifications via IPAFFS – Training Links
You can also watch our pre-recorded training session here.
Guidance on IPAFFS is available on GOV.UK. and our Plant Health Information Portal Import IT Systems page. You will be able to find the following information:
- IPAFFS for Plants Guidance
- IPAFFS FAQs
- How to locate Commodity Codes
- IPAFFS Synonym List for Plants
- IPAFFS Training Links
- HMRC Customs Declaration codes for IPAFFS
Import notifications and customs declarations – get ready, get it right
HMRC and Defra services working together
From 30 April, HMRC/Defra systems will cross-check the CHED import notification & 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.
Use of a scanned copy of an Export Health Certificate
For a three-month period from 30 April 2024 a temporary easement will be in place to enable the full requirements of a documentary check to be satisfied when a scanned copy of an original Export Health Certificate (EHC) or Phytosanitary certificate (PC) is provided in an importer’s prenotification. Where a scanned copy is provided, the original EHC or PC should be provided to competent authorities within five (EHC) or three (PC) business days of a consignment’s arrival.
The temporary easement will only apply to EHCs for animal products and by products from the EU and to PCs for plants and plant products from the EU, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. You should continue to adopt fully digitised certification as soon as possible to reduce the requirement to undergo in person documentary checks at the border once the three-month easement period ends.
Read our information about Export Health Certificates
Resources to help you comply with the new controls and prepare for the changes that are coming
Sign up to our series of webinars for traders. These sessions will tell you all you need to know about changes to import processes from 30 April 2024 under the Border Target Operating Model. They will provide a step-by-step guide to importing to GB from EU/EFTA and will provide information on entering through a port of entry with a border control post and outline what happens once you get there.
Join our session at 10.30am on Tuesday 9 April to find out about the forthcoming changes for products of animal origin:
If you’re importing plants or plant products, sign up to our webinar: BTOM: Prepare for the upcoming import controls from Apr’24 (plants focused) Tickets, Thu 11 Apr 2024 at 11:00 | Eventbrite
Visit our YouTube channel and watch recordings of our previous webinars for traders.
Read our summary of common errors.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions we have received about IPAFFS and Health Certificates.
Read our guidance on how to comply with your legal responsibilities for:
