Brexit Transition

February 2022 Update:

Although it was a fairly quiet start to the year in terms of traffic, traders appear to be following the new rules and the systems seem to be working and traffic is increasing. The messaging from government about compliance is positive although we are aware of peaks on certain routes with has led to some queues in Kent which are being managed in the usual way.

We are now focused on additional inspections that are being introduced in July. This is likely to be the most challenging part of the Brexit transition so far and where there could be trade disruption and further additional costs for UK importers. Ports are awaiting details of the volumes of inspections that port health officers will conduct on goods arriving in the UK as well as the charging mechanisms that the government managed inland border facilities will levy on importers so that the industry facilities are competing on a similar level.

Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive, British Ports Association

31 December 2021 Update: Read our comment on new border processes coming into effect in 2022 here.

From 1 January 2021, EU ports implemented new customs and regulatory controls at their ports for goods arriving from Great Britain. The UK will phase in frontier controls. We will keep this page updated with news on the impacts this is having at the UK border.

Import controls are being phased in. The current timeline is below: