From January onwards, the obligation to submit full import declarations and their respective controls will be implemented

The UK government has recently announced changes to customs controls. As of 1 January, it will be compulsory to submit full import declarations and their respective controls, as BERGÉ reminds us.

EU exporters must therefore ensure that they are registered in the REX System (Registered Exporters System) so that they can apply the benefits of the agreement dated 24 December 2020 between the EU and the UK to their customers.

In this way, it is possible to streamline customs procedures by allowing the registered exporter to “self-certify” the preferential origin of the goods they are exporting by including a specific declaration (so-called statements on origin) in the invoice or any other commercial document related to the shipment.

In addition, depending on the UK terminal’s status as a temporary storage facility or not, it will be necessary for importers in the UK to make a pre-declaration before the goods are shipped from Spain.

This is the new timetable in short:

  • 1 January 2022: Requirements for pre-notification of sanitary and phytosanitary products (SPS).
  • 1 January 2022: phytosanitary certificates and physical checks on sanitary and phytosanitary products at border control posts.
  • 1 January 2022: new requirements for export health certificates.
  • 1 July 2022: safety and security declarations on imports.

Further information about our BREXIT consultancy and advisory service here.