The government has confirmed plans to introduce import controls on EU goods at the border after the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.
We are leaving the EU’s customs union and single market, taking back control of our borders, and beginning to strike trade deals around the world.
There are a number of reasons for implementing import controls:
· to keep our borders safe and secure so we know who’s coming in and how often, what they are bringing in, and why
· to ensure we treat all partners equally as we begin to negotiate our own trading arrangements with countries around the world
· to collect the right customs, VAT and excise duties
· the EU has said it will enforce checks on our goods entering the Eurozone. We will likewise enforce our own rules for goods entering the UK
Business can prepare for border controls by making sure they have an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number, and also looking into how they want to make declarations such as using a customs agent. We will ensure facilitations currently available to rest of the world traders will also be open to those trading between GB and EU.