On 13th December, the Cabinet Office Borders Group hosted an all stakeholder call to update stakeholders on the Border Target Operating Model (TOM) publication timetable.

The call was chaired by Director Tom Smith and Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, who is the new Minister responsible for Borders.

The Minister informed stakeholders that she hoped to be able to announce what the Government’s conclusions are early in 2023 which will be followed by a period of engagement with industry.

She also gave an update on the development relating to legislation known as the Transitional Staging Period (TSP). Whilst the TSP was previously extended to 31st December 2022, the Government will not be introducing further import controls on 1^st January 2023, and the TSP would now be extended further to 31st January 2024.

Government will now proceed with the relevant legislative process to ensure this takes effect, with England, Wales and Scotland all laying their very own, similar Statutory Instruments with the same date.

The actual dates for implementation of the Border Target Operating Model will be explained in the draft document that is now due to be published in early 2023.The final TOM will be published later, but still in early 2023.

Defra have also indicated that they will build on the summer workshops they ran previously, and further engage with key audiences in the UK and the rest of the world (RoW) to collect feedback when the draft TOM is published.

Regarding the TOM, the Minister outlined the following:

1. That decisions will be based on evidence and to strike the right balance between making sure the border does its job – for example in ensuring biosecurity and keeping trade flowing.
2. To ensure we provide industry with clarity, setting out a long-term plan that allows them to plan business and operational changes.
3. To give businesses the necessary time to prepare for the new model and the need to set out a clear timetable leading to any change.
4. A strong commitment to the 2025 Border Strategy, working towards a modern border that exploits technology and data, which adopts a fully joined up approach. This would all be underpinned by the Single Trade Window, which is currently in development.