Pre-notification requirements came into force on 31 January for regulated EU Phytosanitary goods that enter Great Britain from Ireland via the West Coast ports.
An exception is being made for physical checks on high-risk goods that arrive from Ireland, as well as non-qualifying goods from Northern Ireland into West Coast ports.
Physical checks on goods arriving at West Coast ports will not begin until at least 31 October, 2024, including checks on all regulated wood, wood products and bark from Ireland.
Nick Boulton, Head of Technical and Trade Policy at Timber Development UK, said: “With our position on the western edge of Europe, the forestry resources of UK and Ireland have in the past often been seen as a single forestry area with a minimum of controls necessary. However, with the UK now sitting outside of the EU single market more formal controls are necessary. These new physical inspection requirements are a reflection of this change.”
