IT Disruption causing Delay at the borders - Defra Statement

9 Oct 2024

Notification has been received today from Defra

"There has been an IT incident relating to an external provider on the evening of 8 October. The issue has now been resolved. We would like to apologise for any issues traders may have experienced last night, or today linked to the residual impacts of the IT incident, including delays in consignments being cleared from the port.

If you have any queries relating to a specific consignment, please contact the relevant PHA or APHA (contact details can be found below), as they will be able to contact DEFRA if necessary.

Please do not call the HMRC National Clearance Hub (NCH), as they will not be able to determine if an SPS check needs to be conducted and are not authorised to release the goods.

We thank you for your cooperation.

Contact points for urgent border target operating model (BTOM) 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

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.

If you need technical help with IPAFFS you should call the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) helpline on 0330 041 6999 or email APHAServiceDesk@apha.gov.uk"