Proposals for new UK border controls announced

The draft border Target Operating Model (TOM) has been published and a copy is available to view online here. 

The model sets out the Government’s plan to realise the ambition of the 2025 Border Strategy to create the most effective border in the world.

The proposals in the Target Operating Model apply to imports of live animals, germinal products, animal products, plants and plant products from all countries into Great Britain, and will see the implementation of new security and biosecurity controls on imports from the EU. These controls will ensure our environment is protected, deliver food that is safe to eat whilst maintaining security of supply for consumers.

We will implement the model through three major milestones, the first of which importers and their supply-chains should begin to prepare for now:

• 31 October 2023 - The introduction of health certification on imports of medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU.
  
  
  
• 31 January 2024 - The introduction of documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks on medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU. At this point imports of Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods from the rest of the world will begin to benefit from the new risk based model.
  
  
  
• 31 October 2024 - Safety and Security declarations for EU imports will come into force from 31 October 2024. Alongside this, we will introduce a reduced dataset for imports and use of the UK Single Trade Window will remove duplication where possible across different pre-arrival datasets.
  

There is a six-week period of engagement with industry and your views are welcome on the initial proposals. A programme of engagement with stakeholder groups from all the nations of the UK and with international partners is planned. These will bring stakeholders and policy teams from government together to discuss and test the proposals set out in the TOM.

There will be sector specific workshops and international engagement events, as well as wider stakeholder groups and bespoke sessions.

You are invited to attend these events and provide feedback on the model via the online portal. 

Global Trade Month: China - In conversation with Tom Duke
Wednesday 26 April, 9.00am
Online

The second event in the series for our Global Trade Month: China, is an ‘In Conversation’ with Tom Duke.

Tom Duke was appointed Minister Counsellor for the Department for International Trade (DIT) in March 2019 and Deputy HM Trade Commissioner to China in 2020. As a member of the senior leadership team of DIT China and Hong Kong, Tom is responsible for trade and investment promotion, trade policy and market access across a range of industry sectors.

This session will be a strategic discussion about current/future trade relations with Tom, an expert in the market, and will provide insight and advice as to best practice.

Register here. 

You can view the full list of all our courses on the Chamber website.

Courses can also be tailored to meet your company’s specific requirements. For more information about a bespoke course for your company, which can be delivered remotely or in person, please contact the Chamber on 01223 237414.

The Cabinet Office published its draft Operating Model for inbound GB border controls for goods yesterday, due to be rolled out from the end of October this year. A six-week consultation process is now underway. Read the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) comments in the Cabinet Office press release and their own statement issued last week.

Agreement in principle for UK accession to the CPTPP agreement was reached at the end of March. Here is the BCC response to the announcement. A summary of the key commitments is here. Full text of the agreement is expected around the time of signature, likely in July.

The UK Government is consulting upon policy on carbon leakage around trade including any carbon border measures to reduce the risk of this. The consultation runs until 22 June.