London, UK: Trade associations have welcomed the government’s decision to introduce border controls for EU imports “in stages” at the end of the transition period in a bid to give companies affected by coronavirus more time to prepare.
In announcing the move, the UK government also confirmed that it will “neither accept nor seek any extension to the Transition Period”.
“Recognising the impact of coronavirus on businesses’ ability to prepare, and following the announcement in February that the UK would implement full border controls on imports coming into GB from the EU, the UK has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021,” said the government.
“This flexible and pragmatic approach will give industry extra time to make necessary arrangements.”
The stages are:
From January 2021: Traders importing standard goods, covering everything from clothes to electronics, will need to prepare for basic customs requirements, such as keeping sufficient records of imported goods, and will have up to six months to complete customs declarations. While tariffs will need to be paid on all imports, payments can be deferred until the customs declaration has been made. There will be checks on controlled goods like alcohol and tobacco. Businesses will also need to consider how they account for VAT on imported goods. There will also be physical checks at the point of destination or other approved premises on all high risk live animals and plants.
From April 2021: All products of animal origin (POAO) – for example meat, pet food, honey, milk or egg products – and all regulated plants and plant products will also require pre-notification and the relevant health documentation.
From July 2021: Traders moving all goods will have to make declarations at the point of importation and pay relevant tariffs. Full Safety and Security declarations will be required, while for SPS commodities there will be an increase in physical checks and the taking of samples: checks for animals, plants and their products will now take place at GB Border Control Posts
The government also revealed that a new £50m support package, designed to boost the capacity of the customs intermediary sector – including customs brokers, freight forwarders and express parcel operators – providing businesses with further support ahead of the new processes taking effect in July 2021. This funding will support intermediaries with recruitment, training and supplying IT equipment to help handle customs declarations.
The government also committed to building new border sites in Great Britain for carrying out required checks, such as customs compliance, transit, and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks, as well as providing targeted support to ports to build new infrastructure. Where there is no space at ports for new infrastructure, the government says it will build new inland sites where these checks and other activities will take place. The government is consulting with ports across the UK to agree what infrastructure is required.
Elizabeth de Jong, policy director at the Freight Transport Association, said: “The logistics industry is extremely grateful for the measures announced by the UK government to stage the introduction of new trading arrangements between the EU and UK in the first six months after the Transition Period. They have listened to our concerns and made allowances to enable our sector to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and plan effectively so that we can continue to trade effectively with Europe.”
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, said: “This is very welcome news and we are pleased the government has taken a sensible and pragmatic approach to the problem after listening to stakeholders such as the RHA.”
Further details of the government’s new package for customs intermediaries can be found on GOV.UK
