Since January 1st 2022, full customs controls were introduced for goods moving between the EU and Great Britain, except for goods moving from the island of Ireland to Great Britain.
The government has confirmed that current customs arrangements for goods moving from Ireland and Northern Ireland to Great Britain will be extended for as long as discussions between the UK and EU on the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) are ongoing. This temporary extension avoids any disruption while discussions with the EU over the operation of the NIP take place.
Full customs controls are still due to be introduced as planned on January 1st 2022 for goods moving between the rest of the EU and Great Britain, and for goods exported from Great Britain to Ireland. For goods moving between the EU and Northern Ireland, the current arrangements under the NIP continue to apply.
To support customs controls on goods, particularly those locations with limited space or infrastructure, the government has introduced the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS). This system supports the pre-lodgement model for imports, the standard and arrived control model for exports and also facilitates transit movements.
The UK Government has published this information paper confirming the export processes available to traders using GVMS.
The government has also created easy to understand guides for hauliers, intermediaries and drivers using the short straits to move goods from the EU to Great Britain. These are available here.
THE CHANGES
Since January 1st 2022 on many routes you will need a GMR from the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) in order to transport freight to and from Europe. On some routes this applies to both imports and exports.
All products of animal origin (POAO) and Animal By-Products (ABP) consignments coming from the EU to GB (except from Ireland), must now be pre-notified on IPAFFS and all plants and plant products categorised as ‘regulated and notifiable‘ will need to be pre-notified on either IPAFFS or the PEACH system.
Without a valid GMR you will not be able to check in or board the ferry at the ports of Holyhead, Pembroke, Dover or Calais.
Further informations on EORI and GVMS
Get an EORI number
Register for the goods vehicle movement service
GVMS Imports Webinar
GVMS Exports Webinar
Multilingual information for Commercial Drivers transporting goods to and from the EU
