On 13 July 2020, the first iteration of the Border Operating Model was published setting out the core model that all importers and exporters will need to follow from January 2021 as well as the additional requirements for specific products such as
live animals, plants, products of animal origin and high-risk food not of animal origin.
The UK Government also provided important details of Member State requirements as traders and the border industry will need to ensure they are ready to comply with these, and not just GB requirements.
Indeed, as set out in the recently published ‘Reasonable Worst Case Scenario’ assumptions, it is largely the level of readiness for Member State requirements which will determine whether there is disruption to the flow of goods at the end of the transition period.
This is why the UK Government have included additional signposting to those requirements throughout the document, and are encouraging all GB businesses not just to ensure their own readiness but also the readiness of EU businesses to whom they export, and throughout their supply chains.
Since July the UK Goverment have been working closely with industry to further develop their plans for the end of the transition period, and also to respond to industry questions since the publication of the first iteration of the Border Operating Model. This latest
iteration of the Border Operating Model provides additional information in a number
of key areas as set out below as well as clarifying a number of questions from
industry.
The key new additions and changes include:
- Details of the new infrastructure requirements including locations;
- Updates in a number of agrifood and environmental policy areas including fish, chemicals, fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances, high priority plants and plant products;
- Further detail on delayed customs declarations and the requirements of Entry in Declarants Records (EIDR);
- Further details regarding the approach to liabilities for intermediaries;
- Information on what ‘poor compliance history’ means;
- Clarity on guarantees and DDA requirements;
- Bulk import reduced data set details;
- Further clarity on level of checks applying to goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary controls in July 2021;
- The ”Check an HGV is Ready to Cross the Border” Service (formerly referred to as Smart Freight);
- Refreshed process maps to reflect where greater detail is now available;
- A number of new annexes including passengers policies, requirements for aviation, rail and energy sectors; and
- Updated annexes regarding Member State requirements.
- The Border Operating Model will be a live document going forward and as the UK Government are able to provide further details, they will update the Border Operating Model on an ongoing basis.
You can find & read the newly updated and released Border Operating Model here: