It’s 2025 and we’re already needing to talk about heavy stuff, the new Safety and Security Declarations required for GB imports. Starting January 31, 2025, if you’re bringing goods over from the EU into Great Britain, you’ll need to make sure you’re up to speed with these new Safety and Security Declaration rules and regulations.

The also termed Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) is a crucial document required by HMRC to enhance the safety and security of goods entering Great Britain from the EU. Essentially it’s a declaration of what’s on-board so HMRC can make assessments for checks to prevent illegal items entering the UK.

This has already existed for ROTW for many years, but for EU shipments it’s a big change, but don’t worry—here’s a simple and straightforward guide to keep you in the know and ready for what’s coming.

Are you ready? OK, let’s go technical >

Fields Required in ENS document:

  • Mandatory Fields (20 Total): These include the Local Reference Number (LRN), consignor, consignee, countries of routing, the person lodging the declaration, mode of transport at the border, and details about the goods such as description, types of package, number of packages, gross mass, and the transport document number.
  • Conditional Fields (8 Total): These fields are required only under specific conditions. For example, the unique consignment reference number is necessary for Fast Parcel Operators but optional for other modes of transport. The carrier field must be filled if the carrier is different from the person lodging the ENS.
  • Optional Fields (9 Total): These can be left blank depending on the specifics of the cargo and the shipment requirements.

How to Submit Your Declarations

Getting It Done: You’ll need to use the Safety and Security Great Britain (S&S GB) IT platform. In our view it’s not the most accesible platform but still, there’s no face-to-face, no paperwork—just online submissions. To get set up:

Submission Process

  • Platform for Submission: Declarations must be submitted through the Safety and Security Great Britain (S&S GB) IT platform.
  • Registration: To use the S&S GB service, you need a Government Gateway account and a Great Britain Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. This is crucial for businesses not established in Great Britain but needing to submit declarations.

Timing Is Everything: When to Submit

  • General Requirement: Declarations for road goods must be submitted at least 2 hours before their arrival at the border. However, there are specific timing requirements based on the mode of transport:
    • Air Freight: For short-haul flights, declarations need to be submitted by the time of take-off, and for long-haul flights, at least 4 hours before arrival.
    • Maritime Transport: For deep-sea container cargo, declarations must be submitted at least 24 hours before loading at the port of departure. For bulk or break-bulk cargo, the requirement is at least 4 hours before arrival.

Keeping on the Right Side of the Rules

Why It Matters: Sticking to these rules isn’t just about ticking boxes. It helps UK border force quickly understand what’s coming into the country, making sure everything is above board and speeding up the checks. Plus, it keeps any potential hiccups at the border to a minimum

Compliance and Monitoring

  • Government Oversight: HMRC will monitor compliance rigorously. Non-compliance could lead to delays at the border for further checks or potential penalties.
  • Benefits of Compliance: By providing essential safety and security data through the ENS, businesses can assist border authorities in making informed risk assessments. This reduces the likelihood of unnecessary checks and speeds up the clearance process.

Preparatory Actions for Businesses

  • Early Submission Encouraged: To ensure smooth adaptation to the new system, businesses are encouraged to start submitting declarations ahead of the January 2025 deadline if possible.
  • Inter-business Coordination: It’s essential to discuss who will handle the declaration submission within the supply chain—whether it will be the carrier, the importer, or an intermediary. This ensures that all parties are prepared and have the necessary information ready for submission. The ultimate legal responsibility however falls with the physical carrier.

Conclusion

So there you have it! A bit of prep now will make sure you’re all set for these new changes. Keep your imports smooth and your stress levels down by getting familiar with these new safety and security declaration requirements. Need more details or have questions? Always feel free to check out HMRC’s official page for the latest updates and guidance. Here’s to smooth sailing—or flying, or driving—into 2025!

As a bonus BIFA held a fantastic industry webinar this week where Border Force provided a detailed presentation. You can find a copy of this here BIFA SnS Webinar 2 20240107

And of course you can find our more at the official Government website here GOV.UK

Look out for more guidance and updates coming soon.

If you have any questions please contact our Customs Manager Michael Limpkin-Todd here. email: michael.limpkin.todd@jordonfreight.com