The government has announced that it is suspending the introduction of extra border checks on live animal imports from the EU, and specific animal and plant goods from Ireland, to support British businesses and ease trade ahead of its new SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal with the EU.

The deal will establish a UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary zone, cutting costs and red tape for businesses that export and import from the EU, reducing delays at the border, and making food trade with the UK’s biggest market cheaper and easier.

Under the agreement, border checks on live animal imports from the EU as well as on certain plant and animal goods arriving from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (termed non-qualifying goods) will not be required, as their implementation is disproportionate.

Some live animals imported from the EU will continue to be inspected at their place of destination based on a series of risk factors. Non-qualifying goods arriving from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can continue to enter the UK without physical inspection, and will continue to require pre-notification and certification in some instance.

The suspension will be reviewed on a rolling basis to ensure the biosecurity of the UK is effectively maintained.

While the details of the agreement are negotiated, traders must continue to comply with the terms of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) that protect the essential biosecurity of the country, including existing checks.

In summary:

For live animal imports, the existing system of controls on Rest of World imports through Border Control Posts (BCPs) will be maintained, and remote documentary checks and checks on EU and EFTA imports at destination will continue.

For non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods arriving from Ireland and Northern Ireland, this pause means that, where required, pre-notification and certification will continue.

Current controls on goods transiting GB between Ireland and the mainland EU will remain in place.

The current easement on certain medium risk fruits and vegetables from the EU, CH and LI will be temporarily extended, as per recent correspondence.