Cross-border developments and trading corner – 3 February 2026

In this week’s cross-border trading corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates and publications. The most recent Trader Support Service bulletin is also available as is the latest Brexit and Beyond newsletter from the Northern Ireland Assembly EU Affairs team. In December last year, the European Commission announced a reinforcement of controls on products imported into the EU which you can read more about below. And last week in the House of Lords, Lord Newby moved a ‘Motion to take Note’ on the case for a UK-EU customs union and the impact of connections with the EU single market on the UK economy which was then debated in the House.  

Update on reinforcement of controls on products imported into the EU

In December the European Commission announced a reinforcement of controls on products imported into the EU. Within the measures listed, was an increase in the frequency of checks on consignments of goods of animal origin entering the EU.

The Commission wrote to DEFRA stating that the frequency rates will now be updated every four months; previously this was reviewed every six months. The last series of rate changes was made on 1 October 2025, and the Commission has launched the next series of rate changes which took effect from 1 February 2026. More details are available in an email from the UK Government’s Borders Directorate Communications Team.

Miscellaneous guidance updates and publications

This week’s miscellaneous guidance updates and publications are as follows:

• Designated export place (DEP) codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service,
• Maritime ports and wharves location codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service,
• External temporary storage facilities codes for Data Element 5/23 of the Customs Declaration Service,
• Find out what types of Authorised Economic Operator status you can apply for,
• Apply to operate a customs warehouse,
• How to use a customs warehouse,
• Importing sanitary and phytosanitary controlled goods into Great Britain that interact with the Border Trade Matching Service, and
• Simplified rates for bringing personal goods into the UK.