As I surmised in our recent update, in a Ministerial Statement on 14 September, Penny Mordaunt, Paymaster General, confirmed that there will be delays in introducing the various elements of the Border Operating Model for goods coming EU-GB.

The statement says:

• The requirement for pre-notification of agri-food imports will be introduced on 1 January 2022 as opposed to 1 October 2021.
• The new requirements for Export Health Certificates, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.

• Phytosanitary Certificates and physical checks on SPS goods at Border Control Posts, due to be introduced on 1 January 2022, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.

• The requirement for Safety and Security declarations on imports will be introduced as of 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022.

The timetable for the removal of the current easements in relation to full customs controls and the introduction of customs checks remains unchanged from the planned 1 January 2022.

You can read the full statement here.

This does not mean however that we will be taking our foot off the pedal to help you prepare and we will have trade clinics an checklists for you in the coming weeks.