London, UK: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is starting a four-week consultation on the introduction of charges for commercial plant, plant products and animal imports from the EU from next year.
The measures are aimed at supporting the introduction of “bust biosecurity measures”. Defra says, “The consultation aims to ensure a fair and proportionate approach to a future charging system at government-run Border Control Posts, whilst keeping the UK safe from threats like African Swine Fever.
“The proposed range of checks will strengthen the UK’s domestic biosecurity and protect UK producers and consumers from dangerous and costly disease outbreaks.”
A consultation is ahead of the planned implementation of full animal and plant health checks on commercial EU imports from 31 January 2024. Starting next year, documentary, risk-based identity and physical checks will be introduced on some commercial goods arriving from the EU. Products including medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products, and high-risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin could all be selected for sanitary and phytosanitary checks. These checks will take place at Border Control Posts.
The details of new regulations and procedures were laid out in the draft Border Target Operating Model, published in April this year. The draft also outlined a new risk-based categorisation system for imports, ensuring a targeted approach which minimises the need for unnecessary checks, Defra says.
Defra is consulting on a Common User Charge to recover the operational costs of Border Control Posts run by the government. The UK government is working closely with the devolved governments on charging policy and is working towards extending these arrangements to cover other government-run Border Control Posts within Great Britain in the future.
“The flat rate charge would be levied on every consignment eligible for checks entering Great Britain through the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. This charging model is designed to keep costs as low as possible, minimise impact across all businesses and to ensure that small businesses are not disproportionately affected. Charges would only be applicable for Border Control Posts run by the government as privately-run BCPs will set their own charges to cover inspection costs, Defra says.
The proposed implementation date for the Common User Charge is April 2024 and the consultation welcomes feedback on this date. We are aware that businesses face a range of global supply chain pressures and will therefore consider the implementation date in light of broader economic conditions.
The consultation will run until 9 July.
