At the UK border
The United Kingdom (UK) is tightening customs requirements step by step due to Brexit. Make sure you are always prepared for this in good time. This will prevent you from being stranded at the UK border or even already in the Dutch port. This page briefly tells you which customs rules you currently have to comply with.
Note! The UK government will gradually introduce additional customs rules from autumn 2023. These are set out in the Border Target Operating Model (TOM). The new rules particularly relate to veterinary and phytosanitary cargo, but also require all exporters to submit a security declaration (ENS) prior to transport to the UK.
Current customs rules UK
Effective from 1 January 2022
-
Access to the UK via the pre-lodgement and temporary storage model
Since 1 January 2022, the British government has applied two different models for cargo access to UK ports: pre-lodgement and temporary storage. In the British ports that are served from the Netherlands, both models are allowed. Read here how Dutch ferry operators deal with this.
-
Immediate entry into the UK always requires an import declaration
The scheme that applied in the UK in 2021 for six months’ postponement of the submission of import declarations expired on 1 January 2022. Without a further declaration, cargo cannot continue its journey in the British port (temporary storage) or even already in the Dutch port (pre-lodgement).
-
Obligatory pre-notification of veterinary and phytosanitary cargo in the UK
The importer in the UK is obliged to pre-notify veterinary and phytosanitary cargo in the British IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed system) or PEACH (Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate).
Effective since 1 January 2021
- Import rules and border controls for a limited group of goods on the controlled list
- Compulsory veterinary or phytosanitary certificate for entry of live animals and ‘high risk’ agricultural goods, such as trees and perennials