There is officially less than 1 week to go until the new import controls come into effect. Please see below the update from Defra to ensure your business is ready.
From 00:01 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
Contact points for urgent BTOM queries
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.
PLEASE NOTE: the below update is a overview, for the full release, please click HERE
Getting ready for the new controls
Follow these steps and use the resources to help you comply with the new controls and prepare for the changes that are coming.
- Read our guidance on how to comply with your 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 summary of common errors that have been identified through the documentary checks undertaken since the import controls were implemented on 31 January.
Getting ready for plant inspections
Places of Destination – an update
The PoD scheme will come to an end on 30 April. On this date, inspections of high-risk plants and plant products will move to designated Border Control Posts (BCPs) or Control Points (CPs). Alongside this medium-risk plants and plant products imported from the EU, Switzerland & Liechtenstein to GB will be subject to documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks at BCPs and CPs from 30 April.
It is important that you look to plan your journeys to BCPs or CPs as early as possible. This will help to reduce any potential delays to your onward journey and ensure compliance with the new UK phytosanitary regime. We have created a map on our Plant Health Portal containing a list of BCPs and CPs.
Follow these steps and use the resources to help you comply with the new controls and prepare for the changes that are coming for plants and plant products.
Read our guidance on how to comply with your legal responsibilities for:
- Importing plants and plant products from the EU to Northern Ireland
- Importing plants and plant products from non-EU countries to Great Britain
- Bringing plants and plant products to Great Britain for personal use
If you’re importing fruit and vegetables from the EU to Great Britain, you also need to follow quality and labelling rules.
Checks and inspection rates
Risk categorisation and inspection rates
From 30 April 2024, imports are subject to identity checks and physical checks. The percentage of times identity and physical checks will happen (the inspection rate) depends on the risk category of the commodity being imported:
- high risk commodities are inspected every time the commodity is imported (inspection rate 100%)
- medium risk commodities are inspected 1-30% of the time the commodity is imported. The specific inspection rate (M1, M2 or M3) depends on the commodity and country
- low risk commodities are not subject to routine inspection, but may be subject to non-routine or intelligence-led checks
We have also now published the risk categorisation spreadsheet for non-EU countries. This spreadsheet can be used to find the risk category for a specific commodity that is being imported from a non-EU country. Search the spreadsheet using a known commodity code, or by browsing the list of commodities.
From 30 April, changes to border checks will come into force for high-risk and medium-risk plants and plant products. You can read our guidance to learn more. You can also view our indicative fees for plant inspections.
