How to comply with the BTOM and the new import controls that are now in place

27 Nov 2024

The following summary has been provided by Defra as a guide to meeting EU import controls

1. Register for IPAFFS online on GOV UK if you haven’t already done so. The person or business completing the CHED Part 1 import notification must have a UK address to register for IPAFFS.   
2. Know your risk category – use the online guidance to find the risk category of your commodity.   
3. Ensure that your EU supply chain is providing you with health certificates and/or phytosanitary certificates.  
4. Consider using a digitally signed and verifiable GB export health certificate (EHC) in place of the paper version of the certificate for live animals and POAO imports from EU and EFTA countries where the PDF health certificate can be electronically verified. We will accept verifiable PDF certificates from TRACES and other EU/EFTA MS systems listed on GOV UK. You can still use a paper GB health certificate.

Please be aware that the easement period for sending scanned copies of health certificates ended on 31st July 2024.

If you or your agent uploads and attaches a scanned copy of a paper health certificate to the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) on IPAFFS and submits it, you will be required to present the original paper certificate to the Port Health Authority (PHA) or local authority (LA) at the Border Control Post (BCP) in advance of the consignment’s arrival into GB, or upon the consignment’s arrival in GB if advised to do so by the PHA/LA.

Please note: if the original paper certificate is not available for checks on entry into GB, the consignment may be held until the original paper certificate is provided to the PHA/LA at the BCP.  To avoid unnecessary administrative burden and allow for a smoother flow through the BCP, you are strongly encouraged to use verifiable PDF health certificates.

5. Correctly submit your import notification in IPAFFS:

• Watch the webinar recording for Importing HRFNAO via the EU to GB: the new CHED Part 1 notification.
• Watch the webinar recording for Importing animal products from the EU to GB: New CHED Part 1 notification.
• Read our guidance on Import Notifications.
• Practice making CHED import notifications in the IPAFFS training environment.

6. Remind your freight forwarder or customs agent to double-check that the correct CHED import notification reference in the correct format, and the correct doc code, has been entered in the customs declaration for your consignments of EU goods, and that commodity codes and net weights are also included in the declaration. This will be important from 30 April when goods start to arrive through ports with a designated BCP.