From 31 January 2025, all EU imports into Great Britain will require Safety and Security (S&S) declarations. You can find a full list of countries this will apply to on gov.uk.
S&S declarations support the fight against illicit goods such as drugs and weapons entering the UK and make sure legitimate goods aren’t stopped for unnecessary checks.
Hauliers or carriers are legally responsible for submitting S&S declarations. Further information on where liability sits for different transport modes can be found on gov.uk.
Prepare now
HMRC is encouraging businesses to start submitting S&S declarations now, if they are ready to do so. If businesses are not ready, they should speak to their supply chains to check who is responsible and plan how declarations will be submitted.
The department has also advised that the amount of data required to submit a declaration has been reduced, making compliance easier for businesses.
If businesses do not submit S&S declarations from 31 January, they could be issued with a financial penalty and goods could be held for unnecessary checks.
Resources
You can find more information on the new requirements by visiting gov.uk.
Members of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade can access exclusive resources on S&S declarations here.
Our experts also answered questions on the topic of S&S declarations in our regular member-exclusive Ask the Experts series.
