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UK-EU Imports in 2022

Grace period is ending next year - here are the key dates to keep in mind.

15 Dec 2021, 2 min read

In 2022, most of the post-Brexit grace periods on imports entering Great Britain will end.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) had initially delayed these changes to give companies some time to adapt to the new rules – but this leeway is coming to a close in 2022, and firms will need to comply with new procedures from January.

These changes will mirror what the EU has already put in place for imports since early 2021.

1 January 2022

  • Ending the option for business to use deferred declarations for up to 6 months after the goods have been imported - full customs declarations and controls put in place.

How to prepare: The government has published guidelines on how to declare goods.

  • Introducing pre-notification requirements of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods and checks for a number of products including animal and plant-based.

How to prepare: For these products, companies will need to pre-notify the IPAFFS.

  • Importers must hold a supplier’s declaration when issuing a statement on Rules of Origin.

How to prepare: In order to take advantage of preferential treatment, companies will need to hold a supplier’s declaration. Guidance can be found here.

1 July 2022         

  • Safety and Security Declarations will be due for companies importing goods from the EU, as they currently are for goods imported from outside the EU.

How to prepare: The government has published detailed guidance on how companies should prepare and submit the information from July.

  • SPS Control checks at Border Control Posts will be introduced and Export Health Certificates will be required for High-Risk Food of Non-Animal Origin (HRFNAO) and Animal By-Products (ABP) goods.

How to prepare: the same documentation and pre-notification requirements as earlier in January 2021 – but now the goods need to go through a Border Control Post, the list of which can be found here. Companies will also need Export Health Certificates (available here).

Getting used to the new rules – how the CBI can help:

Get in touch with the European trade team at the CBI for any help in adapting to the new controls.

The CBI Transition Hub details the changes and how they may affect your business.

The CBI is regularly sharing your feedback and engaging with government at the Brexit Business Taskforce – share your business insight to inform our contributions.