News

As the UK and EU progress toward a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, businesses across the agri-food, manufacturing, and wider supply chain landscape face a pivotal moment. Understanding what lies ahead and preparing early will be essential for businesses that want to remain competitive, compliant, and resilient.

This case study highlights how minor design changes and informal project updates can reveal significant export control risks when not fully examined through a structured due diligence process. A subtle design change and an off‑hand comment during a routine project meeting may seem insignificant until they expose hidden risks that could compromise export control compliance. 

HMRC have updated the guidance page detailing the Get Customs Data for Import and Export reports, now available free of charge for download from the CDS (Customs Declaration Service).

HMRC have advised of planned downtime for the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS), scheduled for Tuesday, 10 th March 2026.

The Department for Business and Trade has issued Notice to Exporters 2026/04, published 27th February 2026, confirming communication issues between the two export licencing systems, LITE and SPIRE, with the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) database . Published 27 th February 2026. The communication issue has resulted in export licence information being missing from the CDS.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have published a list of 300 additional Russian-sanctioned targets . The list was published on 24 th February, and the UK Sanctions List has been duly updated.

On February 20 th 2026, the United States Supreme Court found President Donald Trump’s imposed IEEPA tariffs to be unlawful. The Court ruled 6–3 that the President had exceeded his legal authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

The upcoming CDS update, version 5.1.0, is scheduled for release on the 28 th March 2026.