What is the BTOM?
The final BTOM (Border Target Operating Model) has now been published, and sets out the principles and high-level structures of the UK’s future border controls. It is not intended to be a step-by-step guide for traders on how to move goods across the border.
The UK’s border model will have the SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) border mechanisms recognised and applied across the world as the key building blocks for animal, public and plant health import controls. Doing so will provide protection for the UK and ensure our trading partners have confidence in our exports.
The model also sets out a new approach to security controls (customs procedures - applying to all imports), and SPS goods (applying to imports of live animals, germinal products, animal products, plant and plant products) at the border. It sets out how controls will be delivered through simplification, digitisation, and the UK’s new Single Trade Window.
The SPS controls will have the following three key elements;
- To maintain and improve biosecurity making them proportionate to risk for both EU and goods coming from the rest of the world.
- To reduce burdens and checks at the Border with better segmentation of risk.
- To use trusted trader / assurance schemes to obtain certain assurances away from the border.
Prepare your business for new import controls
Defra ran a number of webinars to prepare businesses and traders for the new SPS controls within the new BTOM.
Previous webinars, which have given guidance on what the new rules mean for each sector, and what the new AOS (Authorised Operator Status) proposals mean, can be watched at: YouTube – Border Target Operating Model webinar series