OPERATIONAL INFORMATION ON COMPLIANCE AND PROCEDURES FOR TRADERS

On 30th April 2024, new import controls under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) came into effect. This update provides crucial information for traders on compliance requirements, handling Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and Common Health Entry Documents (CHEDs), addressing non-compliance, paying SPS charges, and accessing guidance and support from DEFRA.

Below is the latest information you need to know:

Notifying the correct risk category for your commodity – compliance

You must notify the correct risk category for animal products and plants. There are more information and tools to help you on GOV.UK.

Multiple EHCs on one CHED - compliance

In most instances, traders will need to have a separate Common Health Entry Document (CHED) and Export Health Certificate (EHC) for each commodity that they are importing. By complying with this, traders will avoid experiencing unnecessary delays and costs.

For compound products, each medium risk POAO element of a compound product must have its own health certificate. Composite products from the EU may need to be accompanied by a health certificate, please review guidance on GOV.UK.

Multiple low risk products can be included on one CHED, but only if they meet all the requirements listed below:

have the same country of origin and the same country of consignment
are travelling on the same transport to the same place of destination and
are covered by the same commercial documentation

For plants: please note if you are completing a CHED PP, you can attach multiple plant certificates to one CHED.

Continuous and/or deliberate non-compliance

It has come to our attention, that some traders and logistics companies are making continuous and/or deliberate errors including:

mis-declaring goods as low risk when they are medium, or as medium when they are high
not including a relevant Export Health Certificate (EHC) or Phytosanitary certificate
including multiple EHCs on one CHED

Continued non-compliance within either the EHC or the CHED is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by Port Health Authorities (PHAs). Deliberate misdeclaration is a criminal offence. PHAs will be actively looking to identify such behaviour.

Where there is repeated non-compliance or evidence of misdeclarations, the appropriate authority will take statutory action. This will result in goods being held at a Border Control Post (BCP) for a physical inspection, which may lead to the consignment being ultimately returned or destroyed at cost to the person responsible for the load.

Our detailed guidance has information on how to comply with your legal responsibilities for:

Paying your SPS charges

You should always pay your documentary, identity and physical inspection charges on time.

PHA’s and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will be following up on late payments, and there may be further penalties if they are not paid. Importers are encouraged to establish the applicable SPS charges as soon as possible. Each PHA or Local Authority (LA) will have their own method of payment so please visit the relevant PHA/LA website or contact them direct to ensure you are ready to make the payment. Payments to APHA will be invoiced weekly to the person responsible for the load, notified on IPAFFS.

DEFRA guidance and support: business leaflets and videos

Read DEFRA’s  Leaflets to help businesses prepare for a new approach to importing goods to GB under the BTOM. 

Visit their YouTube channel and watch recordings of our previous webinars for traders.

Stay informed about the latest Port Health news by registering at: https://www.porthealth.uk/contact/

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