This week’s EU exit corner, 19 February 2024

In this week’s EU exit corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates and publications relevant to EU exit. The most recent Trader Support Service Bulletin is also available. Now that the first phase of the UK’s new import controls has commenced, we take this opportunity to remind you of the various phases in both the UK’s Border Target Operating Model and implementation of the Windsor Framework which are set out in a flyer prepared by the Institute’s Public Policy and Tax team. More guidance is set out below on the first phase of the UK’s new import controls in the context of certain meat products which confirms an extension to certain transitional arrangements until 30 April 2024, and we also take a look at the outcome from the recent Call for Evidence on Expanding export support. 

Guidance on the UK’s new import controls – certain meat products 

The Foreign and Commonwealth Directorate Office has asked us to share recently published guidance on minced meats, meat preparations and mechanically separated meat in the context of the UK’s new import controls which commenced from 31 January 2024 which effectively extends the transition period until 30 April 2024.  

The default position is that imports of meat preparations and minced meat into Great Britain must be deep frozen. Imports of minced poultry meat and pig or poultry mechanically separated meat are not permitted. 

In 2022, Ministers announced a delay in applying these prohibitions and restrictions to imports from the EU. Consequently, the government extended the statutory transition for meat preparations until 31 January 2024.  

The guidance note now published confirms that the statutory transition for meat preparations did not end on 31 January 2024 and has been further extended until the end of April 2024 in line with the timetable for checks under the Border Target Operating Model (“BTOM”). 

Call for evidence outcome: Expanding DBT export support in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales 

In this Call for Evidence, the Department for Business and Trade (“DBT”) proposed increasing its export support in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland by introducing one-to-one support to complement existing services. 

The DBT proposes increasing its export support in the Nations by introducing one-to-one support that complements existing services in the form of DBT International Trade Advisors (“ITAs”). ITAs are currently available in the English regions, and introducing this support to Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, will ensure that DBT offers consistent export support across the UK. This rationale is set out in the corresponding document Exporting for Growth, DBT Services in the Nations.  

Miscellaneous updated guidance etc.  

Recently updated guidance, and publications relevant to EU exit are set out below:- 

• CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports; 

• Customs declarants and declaration volumes for international trade in 2023; 

• External temporary storage facilities codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service; 

• Reference Document for The Customs (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020; 

• Data Element 2/3 Documents and Other Reference Codes (National) of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS); 

• Notices made under the Customs (Export) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019; 

• Data Element 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) of the Customs Declaration Service; 

• Simplified procedures exclusion list of procedure and additional procedure codes for CDS; 

• Data Element 2/3: Documents and Other Reference Codes (Union) of the Customs Declaration Service; and 

• Authorised Consignee Temporary Storage (ACTS) location codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service.