UK customs 2022 update: Revised timeline, GVMS locations, and more

On April 28, 2022, the UK government announced that the remaining import controls on EU goods across UK borders will no longer be introduced this year. The UK government plans to update its existing border operating model to reflect these changes in due course. This means that the following controls originally scheduled for July 2022 will not be introduced:

• A requirement for further Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks on EU imports currently at destination to be moved to Border Control Post (BCP)
• A requirement for safety and security declarations on EU imports
• A requirement for further health certification and SPS checks for EU imports
• Prohibitions and restrictions on the import of chilled meats from the EU

The statement was made by the Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency, Jacob Rees-Mogg, with reference to UK rising costs caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine and in energy prices. The measure is expected to save British businesses up to £1 billion in annual costs.

With this step, the UK is looking to consolidate remaining changes for imports from the EU with upcoming changes under its transformation program to digitize Britain’s borders. The decision aims to save costs and efforts this year through avoiding the roll-out of complex and costly checks that would later need to change again when the UK delivers its digital transformation program. Instead, the UK government plans to accelerate the transformative program to digitize Britain’s borders.

Important note: UK border controls that have already been implemented will remain in place.

• Parliament Statement of April 28, 2022 
• 2025 UK Border Strategy as released in December 2020 

On September 14, 2021, changes to the timetable for introducing import border control processes in the UK UK Border Operating Model were announced as follows.

From January 1, 2022: Full customs declarations (implemented as planned)

Full customs declarations and controls have been introduced on January 1, 2022 (with the exception of Safety and Security Declarations), including previously postponed pre-notification requirements of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods on import of products, animals, food, and feed system (IPAFFS).

But the following originally announced deadlines are no longer valid as per the April update.

Details of further 2022 deadlines that have now been postponed

• From July 1, 2022:  Physical checks on all regulated products and Safety and Security Declarations will be required for all imports into mainland GB. Physical checks will apply to all remaining regulated animal by-products, all regulated plants and plant products, all meat and meat products, all remaining high-risk foods not of animal origin. High-priority plant and plant product checks will transfer from place of destination to designated BCPs and control points. Physical checks of live animals will take place at designated border control posts where a facility is operational at the point of entry. Where there is no designated BCP, checks will continue to take place at the destination for other ports of entry until sufficient BCPs are operational. Checks at Sevington inland BCP and designated airport BCPs will start.
• From September 1, 2022: Certification and physical checks will be introduced for all dairy products.
• From November 1, 2022: Certification and physical checks will be introduced for all remaining regulated products of animal origin, including composite products and fish products.

As from January 1, 2022, import declarations must be completed before EU goods arrive in the UK. The implementation of the 'pre-lodgement' model and introduction of the online Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) play a central role in this. The following list of locations that implemented GVMS is in line with the latest UK government update from December 15, 2021.

Locations supporting pre-lodged customs controls for GB imports

Dover (Irish Ferries, P&O, DFDS – all RoRo movements)
• Eurotunnel (all RoRo movements)
• Felixstowe (DFDS only - all RoRo movements)
• Harwich (Stena Line only - all RoRo movements)
• Hull (P&O only - all RoRo movements)
• Immingham (DFDS - all RoRo movements)
• Killingholme (Stena Line, CLdN - all RoRo movements)
• Liverpool (CLdN only)
• Newhaven (DFDS only - all RoRo movements)
• Port of Tyne (DFDS only - all RoRo movements)
• Poole (Brittany Ferries only - RoRo accompanied only)
• Portsmouth (Brittany Ferries only - RoRo accompanied only)
• Purfleet (CLdN - all RoRo movements)
• Sheerness (DFDS only - all RoRo movements)
• Teesport (P&O only - all RoRo movements)
• Tilbury 2 (P&O only - all RoRo movements)

Locations supporting pre-lodged customs controls for GB exports

Dover (Irish Ferries, P&O and DFDS – all RoRo movements)

• Eurotunnel (all RoRo movements)
• Fishguard (Stena Line only - all RoRo movements)
• Heysham (Stena Line, Seatrucks - all RoRo movements)
• Holyhead (Irish Ferries, Stena Line - all RoRo movements)
• Liverpool (P&O, Stena Line, Seatrucks, CLdN - all RoRo movements)
• Newhaven (DFDS only, all RoRo movements)
• Pembroke (Irish Ferries only - all RoRo movements)
• Sheerness (DFDS only - all RoRo movements)

Locations supporting pre-lodged customs controls in Northern Ireland

• Belfast (Stena Line only - all roll on roll off (RoRo) movements)
• Larne (P&O only - all RoRo movements)
• Warrenpoint (Seatruck, Cronus - all RoRo movements)

Useful HMRC links: