Changes to Border requirements for imports of Products of Animal Origin and GB Transit update
BY:
Gail Leeson
24 September 2021
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The UK Government has formally announced the delay in the requirement of full import controls on Products of Animal Origin when imported into the UK from the EU.
Official lines indicate Covid impact, pressure on supply chains and lack of trader readiness as major influences to making the changes.
Official lines indicate Covid impact, pressure on supply chains and lack of trader readiness as major influences to making the changes.
Some limited controls on UK imports of POAO were due to be implemented from 1st October, 2021. These controls will now be required from January 2022 rather than October 2021, with the full controls that will necessitate stronger compliance adhesion such as Animal Health Certification at import, moved back from 1st January, 2022 to 1st July 2022.
Traders have found it challenging to keep up with the compliance requirements. The salient changes are as follows:
• October 2021: The implementation of the requirement of the presentation of an Export Health Certificate and the making of an import pre-notification via IPAFFS from October 2021 as previously published, will not be necessary to support the import of POAO. This requirement has been delayed
• The requirement for import pre-notification to be made on IPAFFS moves from October 2021 to January, 2022
• July 2022: In addition to the pre-notification required on IPAFFS, an Export Health Certificate will be required to support the import.
Important note:
The original EHC must accompany the consignment. Copy documents are non-compliant
• July 2022,
POAO MUST enter through a Border Control
Post to enable
compliance checks on the documents and the consignment.
The UK authorities are keen to ensure that traders are ready for the changes to be implemented, urging traders to register for IPAFFS in good time, and familiarise themselves with both the border compliance requirements and the necessity for affected consignments to be processed via an appropriate designated Border Control Post.
Consignments may therefore be restricted in their transportation route to enable these compliance checks to take place.
POAO under Safeguard Measures
Goods subject to safeguard measures have been subject to controls on UK imports from the EU since January, 2021. The following documentation is necessary when presenting the goods at the border:
• A Health Certificate
• An Import licence or
• A commercial document
The original Health Certificate MUST accompany the consignment to be compliant with regulations.
POAO not subject to safeguard measures and low risk ABP Transiting GB – update to Government Guidance 23rd September
POAO that are not subject to safeguard measures and low risk ABP that are transiting through Great Britain must be pre-notified on IPAFFS from 1st January, 2022.
Government guidance was updated on 23rd September for POAO that move under the Transit Procedure through GB for delivery outside of the GB territory.
EU to Great Britain to EU transits
This guidance covers the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for EU goods moving from:
• the EU to Great Britain to the EU
• the EU to Great Britain to Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland to Great Britain to the EU
Link below
Links
Full Ministerial Statement that includes confirmation of the delay to the border requirements for POAO
Government guidance to the import of products of animal origin, including a link to register for IPAFFS.
Information on BCPs and how to use them
Link to the updated guidance on POAO Transit through GB.
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