In August 2023, the United Kingdom (UK) notified the WTO SPS Committee of the publication of the final version of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) G/SPS/N/GBR/30/Add.2 that set out the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regime for Great Britain (GB). The measures contained in the BTOM apply to imports of live animals, germinal products, animal products, plants and plant products and high-risk food of non-animal origin into Great Britain and set out the timeline for implementation from January 2024 onwards.
As set out in the BTOM, the UK government will be implementing legislation in two Statutory Instruments (SIs) to deliver the second stage of the BTOM from 30 April 2024. Full details of the legislation can be found via the following links: The Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024; and The Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
* Documentary, physical and identity checks are being introduced for medium and high-risk animal products imported into Great Britain from the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) countries (excluding those goods being imported from Ireland). The frequency of identity and physical checks on animal products will be aligned with the new global riskcategorisation model as outlined in the BTOM.
* For plants and plant products, physical and identity checks of goods from the European Union, Switzerland and Liechtenstein move to Border Control Posts (BCPs) and Control Points (CPs). Medium and high-risk plants and plant products from the European Union must come through a point of entry with the relevant BCP (list of relevant BCPs are here). Inspections of high-risk plants/plant products from the European Union will move from Points of Destination (PoDs) to BCPs and CPs.
* The simplification of some import requirements from non-EU countries will also commence. This will include the removal of routine checks on low-risk animal products, plants, plant products from EU and non-EU countries; the reduction in physical and identity check levels on mediumrisk animal products from non-EU countries; the removal of the default deep freezing condition for meat preparations from legislation, enabling this to be managed by health certification from 30 April 2024: Import food and drink from the EU to Great Britain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The list of re-categorised plants and plant products from third countries can be found here. 1
* For a three-month period from 30 April 2024, a temporary easement will enable the full requirements of a documentary check to be satisfied when a scanned copy of an original Export Health Certificate (EHC) or Phytosanitary certificate (PC) is provided in an importer's prenotification. Where a scanned copy is provided, the original EHC or PC should be provided to competent authorities within five (EHC) or three (PC) business days of a consignment's arrival. The temporary easement will only apply to EHCs for animal products and by products from the European Union – and to PCs for plants and plant products from the European Union, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Noting the easement's time limited nature, importers should continue to adopt fully digitised certification as soon as possible to reduce the requirement to undergo in person documentary checks at the border, following the easement's expiry.
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