
UK customs 2022 update: Revised timeline, GVMS locations, and more
Full UK customs controls have taken effect in January 2022. Remaining import control timelines have now been revised. Learn more, plus: GVMS and CHIEF/CDS.
Full UK customs controls have taken effect in January 2022. Remaining import control timelines have now been revised. Learn more, plus: GVMS and CHIEF/CDS.
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:
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.
Preparations for the UK government system change from CHIEF to CDS have been underway for some time. Final deadlines have been released for 2022 and 2023. Learn more about the details of the change, what you need to do, and what your options are.
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.
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But the following originally announced deadlines are no longer valid as per the April update.
For many years, the UK authorities have recommended that the "EU" country code should not be used in customs declarations. With Brexit, the recommendation turned into reality for UK customs declarations. As of February 8, 2022, the code “EU” is no longer valid in any data field in CHIEF. It is now required to use the respective EU member state's correct country code instead. The same HMRC advice applies to CDS
You can find more details in HMRC's guidance "Clarification to Stop Press Notice 4 (Tariff stop press notice 5)" which replaces the original guidance on the removal of the country code EU from CHIEF.
To learn more about the official HMRC customs system change from CHIEF to CDS including timelines, key differences, and how to prepare, please refer to this article in the AEB magazine.
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.
Useful HMRC links: