UK SPS checks: key info for hauliers and exporters

In around 4 months, the UK will begin implementing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on live animals or animal products from the EU and EFTA states arriving in Great Britain. While such checks have been delayed in the past, they are due to go ahead and must be taken into consideration by exporters and logistics companies. For those unfamiliar with the new rules, below you will find a summary of the key changes that have been provided to us by CustomsLink.

The first to be aware of is the need to determine the Target Operating Model (TOM) risk category for the commodity transported, at to then follow the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules for that category.

As explained by CustomsLink, the TOM classifies live animals, germinal products, products of animal origin (POAO), and animal by-products (ABPs) as either high risk, medium risk, or low risk. Each category has different requirements.

TOM risk categories can be using two documents: TOM risk categories: summary tables and TOM risk categories: searchable list with commodity codes.

Composite products from the EU and EFTA states will either be in the low TOM risk category or exempt from import controls.

If your consignment is in the low TOM risk category, use the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) to notify authorities. No export health certificate is required.

More is nonetheless required when it comes to medium and high TOM risk categories. An export health certificate should be issued by the competent authority in the country of origin if necessary.

Moreover, consigned goods in the high TOM risk category are already subject to physical import checks, which will continue. This will apply to the TOM Medium Risk group from 31 January 2024.

If there is no Export Health Certificate issued by the exporting company for your goods, you may need an import licence or authorisation. CustomsLink recommends contacting the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Animal Imports team for assistance.

It is also advised that TOM risk categories are subject to regular review and may change in the future. TOM risk categories for products from non-EU countries will be published this summer. Meanwhile, TOM risk categories related to plants and plant products will be available though the UK Plant Health Information Portal.

CustomsLink adds that it is always worth checking if your products need IPAFFS as there are obscure commodities such as used tractors and forestry equipment which you wouldn’t ordinarily think would fall under the import of products, animals, food and feed system.

Photo: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image cropped)