Defra border services - Routine maintenance 6 February, 7pm - 9pm

Routine Defra border services maintenance will take place between 7pm and 9pm GMT on Thursday 6 February 2025.

There should be no impact on IPAFFS. Businesses and their agents should continue to submit Common Health Entry Documents for goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary controls as usual.

There may be a delay to your agent seeing Defra SPS releases on pre-lodged customs declarations during the maintenance time. These will resolve automatically once the maintenance is completed.

If you or your agent experience ongoing issues regarding Defra SPS releases or holds, there are established Defra routes for contacting the authorities – please prioritise using these routes over contacting NCH. We understand that this is a change for agents and businesses who prefer to contact NCH, however using these routes will help to resolve issues more quickly.

Contact points for Defra SPS releases/holds queries

Any urgent BTOM import queries for plants and plant products across England and Wales should be directed to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), by email, in the first instance: phsi-importers@apha.gov.uk Please provide the CHED reference number.

Alternatively, you can contact them by telephone: +44 (0) 3000 200 301

Any urgent BTOM/import queries for animal products should be directed to the Port Health Authority (PHA) at your nominated Border Control Post (BCP). Find your PHA contact details at your nominated BCP on this map. Please provide the CHED reference number.