Read the announcement in full here.

Currently when a consignment is rejected at an EU BCP the exporter must notify APHA of their intention to return goods. APHA then commission risk assessments from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) or APHA (depending on the origin and commodity) before issuing an authorisation for the goods to return to their point of origin not through a BCP.

Once back at the establishment of origin, the goods must then be inspected by the relevant competent authority (e.g. FSA or local authority), before they can be put on the domestic market or be re-exported. This service is only available to exporters during working hours from Monday to Friday.

From 20 April 2026 goods rejected at an EU BCP, will follow the process below:

• Before goods rejected at an EU BCP can be returned to GB, they must be pre-notified on IPAFFS, with the ‘re-entry’ option selected.
• The IPAFFS notification must be made by the operator responsible for the consignment in GB. The operator must have access to an IPAFFS account. Traders are therefore advised to ensure they have access to IPAFFS in advance or alternatively appoint an agent in GB to complete notifications on their behalf. Information can be found here.
• On return, goods must be presented at the designated BCP. Further information about GB BCPs can be found here.
• Returned consignments will undergo the required checks at the GB BCP. Depending on the findings, the goods may be cleared for re-entry, required to undergo special treatment, or destroyed if they pose a risk to human or animal health.
• Exceptions: Returned consignments from the island of Ireland are exempt from the new process due to the lack of available BCP for these goods to return to. The current process will remain in place, however, it’s expected that it will be quicker.

IPAFFS will be operational 24/7 and GB BCP opening hours can be found here.

You must make a customs declaration on the HMRC CDS system. You may be able to claim returned goods relief, meaning that you will not pay any import duties. More information here.

Please note: Consignments rejected by SIVEP in France often receive a destruction notice. Exporters through their agent in France can appeal this and instead request the goods are returned to GB provided this is done within two to five days of the notice being provided to the agent.  Returns are authorised by the SIVEP on an exceptional basis: their response will depend primarily on their risk analysis of the goods and on what has been observed.

We are told that this new system will be quicker, more cost effective, and should drive a reduction in time stuck at an EU BCP meaning it will have less of an impact on product shelf life.

Note: Businesses in GB can carry on using the old process if they want to. However, that service will now operate to a 5 working day timeframe from pre-notification to risk assessment and clearance, so it is strongly discouraged.

Businesses should also be aware that GB BCPs are entitled to reject returns; consignments being returned will effectively be treated as imports, but destruction in GB will be cheaper than in the EU.

Until 19 April, traders must continue to use the current returns process.

Please register for the webinars using the links provided below.

Webinar 9 April 2026: Revised process of returned consignments

Webinar 14 April 2026: Revised process of returned consignment