UK Government publishes new Border Operating Model

This means that controls will be placed on the movement of goods between Great Britain and the EU. To afford industry extra time to make necessary arrangements, the UK Government has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021.

The Border Operating Model provides clarity and certainty for the border industry and businesses, including technical detail on how the border with the EU will work after the transition period and the actions that traders, hauliers, ports and carriers need to take. It covers all of the processes and systems, across all government departments, that will be used at the border. It provides clarity on the end to end journey for moving goods across the border – with information about controlled goods and new government systems that will support trade.

To help businesses prepare for these changes and continue to trade guides on how to import and export goods are available in the form of a ‘journey’, so that you can clearly see every step you need to take to ensure that your goods are transported successfully. You can also user the checker tool to check what actions your business needs to take to trade with the EU at gov.uk/transition.

As part of these preparations a £705 million package has been announced for border infrastructure, jobs and technology to ensure GB border systems are fully operational when the UK takes back control of its border after the end of the transition period.  The operating model does not apply to UK internal movements such as those between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. More detailed guidance for UK businesses moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland will be available in the coming weeks.