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EU import safety declarations required in Great Britain from January 2025

As of 31 January 2025, all goods imported from the European Union into Great Britain must be accompanied by a safety and security declaration, also known as an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). This update marks a significant change in import requirements, aligning EU imports with existing practices for goods from non-EU countries.

To simplify compliance, the amount of data required for safety and security declarations has been reduced. Importers will need to complete 20 mandatory fields for all declarations, with an additional eight conditional fields required under specific circumstances. The remaining nine fields are optional, offering businesses some flexibility. Importers currently submitting safety and security declarations for non-EU imports—or voluntarily for EU imports—will not need to alter their systems but can opt to benefit from the streamlined dataset from the implementation date.

The United Kingdom's Safety and Security Great Britain (S&S GB) platform is used for submitting these declarations. Businesses can manage this requirement by developing compatible software, purchasing it, or employing the services of a Community System Provider. Those submitting declarations must register with S&S GB, requiring a Government Gateway account and a Great Britain Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. Businesses outside Great Britain can also apply for a GB EORI to meet this requirement.

The data fields in the new Safety and Security GB dataset include critical information such as the consignor and consignee, goods description, transport details, and first place of arrival. Some fields, like the container number or UN Dangerous Goods code, are conditional and must be completed only in specific scenarios. Others, such as the commodity code and the total number of packages, are optional.

Businesses that are not already submitting safety and security declarations for EU imports are encouraged to prepare in advance. Companies should establish agreements within their supply chains to determine who will be responsible for completing declarations and identify the most suitable method for submission. For businesses already experienced in handling declarations for imports from non-EU countries, their existing processes can continue with no changes, though they may take advantage of the reduced data requirements.

The legal responsibility for submitting declarations falls on carriers or haulers, though another party, such as an importer or intermediary, may lodge the declaration on their behalf. However, carriers remain ultimately accountable for ensuring the declaration is submitted.

The implementation of these new requirements underscores the need for businesses to prepare well ahead of the 31 January 2025 deadline. Importers are advised to review their supply chains, consult with trade representatives as needed, and take necessary steps to ensure compliance. For further details, information is available through the Safety and Security Great Britain service, providing clarity on how to navigate these changes.

For more information:
Gov UK
Tel: +44 (0)7920 073612
www.gov.uk

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