What is the ATTS? 

The proposed ATTS is a scheme aimed at frequent importers of ‘medium risk’ Products of Animal Origin (POAO) and Animal By-Products (ABP) from the European Union (EU) and the Rest of World (RoW). 

The ATTS has been designed with a modular framework which will provide businesses with flexibility and choice as to how they engage with the Trusted Trader approach.

The design of the modular framework is to provide businesses with an ability to build a package of facilitations that aligns with their specific business operational requirements, rather than the present need to fit to a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. 

HMRC are running a pilot of each of these modules as a first step to determine whether the module will be included as part of the scheme indefinitely. 

Further details on the Trusted Trader scheme are published at P.44-P47 in The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) available from the link below:



Final_Border_Target_Operating_Model.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Who can apply? 

Providing that a business meets the minimum entry requirements to become a member of the ATTS, the business will have the option of applying for the different modular facilitations. 

These facilitations will include; 

• the ability for goods checks to be completed away from the border.
• simplifying the certification process for goods moving to Great Britain from a consolidation hub.
• a reduction in checks at the border, proportionate to the level of assurance provided by sharing supply chain data with the UK authorities.

What are the modules that a trader can apply for? 

Certification Logistics

This module focuses on streamlining the certification process for animal products, and allows an Export Health Certificate to be used from the point of origin of the goods (e.g. a manufacturing site) without the regulatory requirement for re-certification at a consolidation hub in the EU prior to dispatch to Great Britain. 

The Trusted Trader would need to provide acceptable assurances regarding the biosecurity integrity of the goods in the interim, throughout transport and storage, and detail any limited permitted manipulation of products used. 

This benefit will initially be limited to packaged medium-risk POAO and ABP which originate from the EU, and will initially only be available to traders importing goods into Great Britain from EU/EFTA countries. 

Checks Away from the Border

This module would allow frequent importers of animal products to reduce the need for routine physical checks at the Border Control Posts by taking responsibility for carrying out checks at other locations.

The checks carried out by the trusted trader at their own site will not necessarily replicate the BCP model but will provide equivalent biosecurity and public health assurance to Government. 

This benefit can be applied to medium-risk POAO and ABP, and will be available initially to traders importing goods from both the EU/EFTA countries and the Rest of the World. 

Journey Assurance 

This module will consider how supply chain data and technology already utilised by businesses could be drawn upon to provide biosecurity and public health assurances. 

The precise benefits associated with this module would need to be determined as part of the co-design and pilot phases. One possibility under consideration is that there would be a proportionate reduction in the level of checks based on the level of assurance secured via the relevant available technology. 

This benefit can be applied to medium-risk POAO and ABP, and will be available initially to traders importing goods from both the EU/EFTA countries and the Rest of the World. 

Dates for the Diary 

January 2024 will see the start of the pilot of the Certification Logistics module. The pilots for the other modules will commence in April 2024. 

HMRC intend to introduce an Expression of Interest process to provide an opportunity for a representative range of businesses to participate in the pilots delivered in 2024. 

The How does the trader apply for the pilots? 

The Expression of Interest will be open from 11th September 2023 to the 6th October 2023, and the application form can be found at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/accredited-trusted-trader-scheme-pilot-expression-of-interest-form

Help and further information 

Defra have announced that they will be running a series of training sessions to prepare traders for the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import controls (certification and border checks) within the new Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). Information on the Defra run events can be found at the link below: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-btom-what-are-the-sps-border-controls-2144279

Further information as to ATTS membership criteria can be found in the EOI policy document, to be  found on Gov.uk at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accredited-trusted-trader-scheme-pilot