Archives



Business, Freight News, Logistics


Government reveals plans for post-Brexit border

[ April 5, 2023   //   ]

The Cabinet Office has published a draft Border Target Operating Model, setting out the Government’s new approach to importing into Great Britain that will be progressively introduced from the end of October.

It proposes a new approach to security controls, for all imports, and to sanitary and phytosanitary controls (for live animals, animal products, plants and plant products) at the border. It sets out how these will be simplified, digitised and, over time, delivered through the UK’s new Single Trade Window.

For Safety and Security controls, the government says its approach is to minimise trader burdens and maintain border security while remaining aligned with international standards.

It would reduce the Safety and Security data requirements down from the current 37-field dataset to 24 mandatory fields with the remaining 13 fields optional. It would also make it easier to submit Safety and Security data through the UK Single Trade window;

It also aims to remove duplication of data, for example by allowing the use of Transit Security Accompanying Documents in place of separate Safety and Security and Transit declarations.

It would also remove Safety and Security requirements for certain outbound freeport goods, outbound transit and fish from UK waters landed in non-UK ports.

For Sanitary and Phytosanitary controls there would be a new global risk-based approach with products categorised as high, medium or low risk, with controls appropriately weighted.

It will digitise phytosanitary certificates from 2023 with take-up depending on trade partners’ readiness and implement simplified export health certificates in Spring 2023 for animal products, and deliver digitised export health certificates in 2024.

The Government also plans to pilot schemes with industry where authorised importers of plants, plant products and some animal products may be eligible for streamlined controls. The Government adds that the development of the UK Single Trade Window will underpin its new approach to controls, with a single digital gateway for importers and exporters to provide data needed to trade and apply for licences and authorisations for trusted trader schemes.

With the Windsor Framework now agreed, none of the additional checks or controls set out in the Border Target Operating Model will apply to imports into Northern Ireland from the EU.

However, in line with the introduction of border controls on EU imports set out within the Border Target Operating Model, goods from Ireland will face new checks and controls as the UK will bring in full customs controls for these movements. The new controls will be phased in from October.

The Government is now inviting stakeholders to provide feedback through an online survey (https://tinyurl.com/yzdtwr5s ) on the proposals before a final version is published in June.

There will also be opportunities for direct discussions to compliment the feedback gathered by the survey.

The Cabinet Office is also running a programme of engagement with stakeholders from all nations of the UK and international partners for six weeks . It will consist of sector specific workshops, international events as well as wider stakeholder groups and bespoke sessions, covering all aspects of the Border Target Operating Model.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will host sector specific sessions and seminars for traders in food, live animals, animal products, plants and plant products.

In response, head of trade at Logistics UK, Nichola Mallon, said: “Our members share the government’s ambition to create the most effective border in the world, which facilitates trade to and from the EU. However, as always, the devil will be in the detail in the new proposals, and it is vital that the government and business continue to test the model to ensure it is fit for purpose.  

“Business will need as much time as possible to prepare for a new trading regime and Logistics UK will be keeping dialogue open with the Cabinet Office and HMRC during the consultation period.”

Director general of The Institute of Export & International Trade, Marco Forgione said: “I am pleased that the Government is committed to a phase one implementation of 31 October. It is important ministers make sure that deadline does not slip because UK businesses are currently at a significant competitive disadvantage.

“The emphasis on legitimate traders, advanced supply chain data and the innovative approach to amongst others advanced supply chain data, SPS, and transit create tremendous potential.”

Tags: