Brexit: What will change from April 1?

At trade agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, which was presented on December 24, 2020, the staggered introduction of controls and documentation requirements between both territories was established. The beginning of the first phase, on January 1 of this year, marked the end of the free movement of goods between UK and EU, causing significant bureaucratic and logistical problems on both sides of the canal.

On April 1, new requirements will come into force for exports of products of plant or animal origin: All products of animal origin – for example meat, pet food, honey, milk or eggs, and all regulated plants and plant products. – They will require prior notification and the relevant sanitary documentation (sanitary or phytosanitary certificates). Controls, physical inspections will be intensified Y Health documentation will be requested for products of animal origin and to all plants and vegetables.

“Especially the requirement of prior notification can cause problems,” he warns Juan Galicia, Delegate of Aragón Exterior in the United Kingdom. “The notification has to be made by the importer in the United Kingdom, but if it is not done correctly and the shipment is stopped, the problem will be with the exporter, who is usually responsible for the shipment. Both parties must collaborate in this process. ”

British importers will have to make a prior notification for each shipment of this type of product

Changes as of April 1:

There will be no changes to the main import process from April 2021, and for most merchandise, there will be no changes to the general import procedures.

The following categories of merchandise will be subject to additional sanitary and phytosanitary controls as of April 1:

Animal products (only products of animal origin)

Additional requirements for live fishery products and bivalve molluscs

High-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO)

Plants and plant products

For these products, as of April 1, controls will be intensified:

Notification prior to importation and sanitary certification (see point 2) required by stages for animals, plants and their products in January, April and July 2021, with documentary control carried out remotely or in Border Control Post (BCP) as of July 2021

Physical and identity checks at the destination or other approved facilities on certain goods, such as high-risk animals (they will be carried out at the destination or in authorized places, and as of July 1 at the BCP)

Sanitary / phytosanitary certificates

The products must be accompanied by the corresponding sanitary or phytosanitary certificate, with a remote control in the first term and controls at border points (Border Control Posts, BCP) from July 1.

Notification prior to shipment, by the importer

As of April 1, the importer must provide advance notice to the relevant regulatory bodies of the arrival of a shipment to GB.

The IPAFFS is the British system where the English importer pre-notifies the import to the HMRC (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System).

The following graphic shows the necessary steps in the export process to the United Kingdom, by the exporter, the importer and the authorities (white color):

Source: Aragón Exterior

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