Defra have now published the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) risk-categorisation for the imports of animals, animal products, plants and plant products for the remaining countries outside of the EU, which sets out the controls that will apply to these goods when they are exported to Great Britain from 30 April 2024.

From 30 April 2024 onwards, the controls for imports to GB from all third countries will shift away from the inherited EU model to the BTOM’s risk-based and targeted approach. This shift will represent a material change in how commodities are exported to GB from certain countries with several positive outcomes for GB importers, most prominently a reduction in cost and time to bring goods into GB.

The BTOM describes categories of high, medium and low risk, and this categorisation gives the details of how the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regime will be applied.

For animals and animal products, the categorisation is derived from a scientific assessment of the biosecurity risk that each commodity poses, weighted against the disease and pest risk of the country of origin. For plants and plant products, an equivalent process is in place to categorise commodities according to biosecurity risk. The model is dynamic, with risk categorisation able to change in response to changes to disease risk. Defra will communicate with traders well in advance of any changes to commodity categorisation.

The risk categorisation for animals and animal products does not alter existing market access arrangements. Trading partners can continue to import the same range of products under the BTOM as they are able to now. Defra’s initial risk assessment has focused on the following countries – Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Faroe Islands, India, Israel, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay and Vietnam. It is these trading partners to which the BTOM risk categories will initially apply. Other countries that have market access for animal products will continue to trade under existing conditions until a risk assessment has been completed.

For non-EU animals and animal products, the risk categorisation is available here.

For non-EU plants and plant products the risk categorisation is available here.