On the BTOM border controls to come in on 30 April , here on the rates of inspections.
1. For information, the Engagement Team of DEFRA just published information regarding the inspection rates per product type as added on the respective DEFRA website. You are aware that in its blog on Friday, DEFRA had spoken about the border controls to start on 30 April and to be carried out – in a phased manner – on the highest risk goods first, and then the checks should be increased, however the time line was not clear. It was also not clear what “highest” risk products would mean, but DEFRA had confirmed that it meant checking goods across high risk products (which have a check rate of 100%) and of goods within the medium risk category (check rate 1-30%).
2. In its latest outreach communication of today, DEFRA clarifies that the inspection rates depend on commodity and country (country means for the Rest of World, the EU is considered as a block). DEFRA adds the inspection rate into the tables that outline the risk categorisation of the product. I did not check the risk categorisation of the ROW countries again, but we should keep an eye.
3. For animal products, you can find the inspection rate (e.g 100% for live animals, including acquatic animals, e.g. 1% on milk and 10% on diary products) here for animal products and for plant products here.
For plant inspections, DEFRA also referred to a list with the indicative fees for England and Wales. The fees cover – actual – inspection and physical check rates. Remember that currently fruit and vegetables are low risk and do not need to be inspected. You see that for the animal products, a lot of inspection rates are at the very lowest rate of 1%.
4. Here you can see DEFRA’s updated list of common errors.
5. In the picture down below are phone numbers of helplines
Photo credit: © Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
