Following the Government announcement on Tuesday 14 September 2021, we are sharing further information and guidance on what this could mean for your businesses.

The new controls and requirements that were due to be introduced from 1 October 2021 and 1 January 2022 have now been delayed to 1 January 2022 and 1 July 2022.  

A summary:

• Full import controls still due to start 1 January 2022 (full import entry or CFSP)
• Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) for GB arrivals postponed until 1 July 2022
• Exit Summary Declaration (EXS) for GB exports of empty transport units still live from 1 October 2021
• IPAFFS postponed until 1 January 2022 (initially as a pre-notification, without EHC)
• Export Health Certificate (EHC) for GB is not required until 1 July 2022
• Border Control Posts (BCP) postponed until 1 July 2022 (physical and document checks)
• GVMS still due 1 January 2022 (import entry details required at frontier)

Businesses no longer need to pre-notify or acquire a certified Export Health Certificate (EHC) from 1 October 2021. This means you can continue to import animal product consignments from the European Union as you do today until 31 December 2021.

From 1 January 2022, importers (or a representative acting on their behalf) will be required to pre-notify authorities via IPAFFS that their consignment will be entering Great Britain.

From 1 July 2022, animal products will need to continue to pre-notify their arrival via IPAFFS. Additionally, these consignments must be accompanied by a certified Export Health Certificate and enter via a point of entry with a Border Control Post (BCP) that has been designated to receive these goods. The consignment will be subject to documentary, ID, and physical checks.  

These delays do not impact any current arrangements already in place i.e. products under safeguard measures.

At this stage we encourage businesses to start thinking about the appropriate and relevant actions they will need to take to be ready for 1 January 2022.  

We will be hosting a series of webinars over the next few months, where we will cover off and highlight any changes to help support businesses through these changes. Sign up to our newsletter to ensure you are kept up to date.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I need an Export Health Certificate?

Animal products being imported from the European Union into Great Britain will not require a certified Export Health Certificate to accompany the consignment until 1 July 2022. Further information about requirements from July 2022 can be found on gov.uk

Where can I view the Export Health Certificates?

EHCs are issued by the competent authority in the exporting country, based on the requirements outlined in the model Export Health Certificates. The EHC is issued to the exporter based in the European Union (EU), who then provides the importer with an electronic copy to upload onto the notification in IPAFFS before the consignment arrives into Great Britain.

From 1 July 2022, will my animal products need to enter via a point of entry with a Border Control Post?

Yes, from July 2022 your animal products consignment will need to enter Great Britain via Border Control Post that is designated to receive your type of goods.

Does the delay apply to animal by-products (ABP) as well as animal products for human consumption?

Yes, products of animal origin (POAO) for human consumption and ABP not for human consumption are included in these new arrangements. Both POAO and ABP consignments will require pre-notification from January 2022 and an EHC from 1 July 2022.

From July 2022, consignments will be subject to documentary, ID and Physical Checks.

Further information about requirements from January and July 2022 can be found on gov.uk

Will I need to pre-notify my goods from 1 January 2022?

IPAFFS is the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) and is the system used to notify the arrival of imports of live animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin.

It is the responsibility of the GB importer (or a representative acting on their behalf) to register for IPAFFS to pre-notify the relevant authority of the goods’ arrival. If an EHC is required for the commodity, the EU exporter should provide the GB importer with an electronic copy of the EHC and the GB importer must upload this on to the notification in IPAFFS.

How do these delays impact my goods that are transiting through Great Britain?

Consignments of EU origin and/or third country that have been cleared for free circulation in the EU can continue to transit through Great Britain as they do today.

From 1 January 2022, animal products transiting through Great Britain will need to be pre-notified via IPAFFS before they enter Great Britain. When these goods leave Great Britain, you will also need to notify authorities that the goods are leaving the country.

Additionally, from 1 July 2022, EU origin consignments transiting through Great Britain will require a certified EHC and must enter and exit through a point of entry with an appropriately designated Border Control Post.  

Further information on transits is available on gov.uk

Does this impact on the introduction of the new EHCs for goods exported to the EU or moved to NI from Great Britain as part of the Animal Health Regulation?

No, Animal Health Regulations EHCs apply to goods being exported from GB to the EU or goods moving from GB to NI only.

The changes in this communication relate to goods being imported from the EU into Great Britain only.