The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM)

What is the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM)?

The UK government published a draft ‘Border Target Operating Model’ in April 2023, which is applicable to imports from all countries into Great Britain, including the EU. The Border Target Operating Model highlights the UK government’s approach to safety and security controls and sanitary and phytosanitary controls. The safety and security controls relate to all imports, whereas the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls relate to imports of live animals, animal products, plants and plant products.

The Border Target Operating Model outlines the need for effective border controls and the need to support businesses with import processes that are as simple as possible. The new controls are seen as essential in maintaining UK security and biosecurity and will better protect the UK population and environment from invasive pests and diseases, protect public health, deliver food that is safe to eat whilst maintaining security of supply for consumers, and disrupt criminal activity before it can harm UK communities.

Border Target Operating Model - Final Plans

The Border Target Operating Model contains the UK government’s final plans for a new approach to importing goods into Great Britain, that will be progressively introduced from the end of January 2024.

The government has stated that the Border Target Operating Model sets out a new approach to security controls (applying to all imports), and sanitary and phytosanitary controls (applying to imports of live animals, animal products, plants and plants products) at the border. It sets out how controls will be simplified and digitised, and their ambition for the UK’s new Single Trade Window.

BTOM Implementation Timelines

The UK government have stated that they will implement the Border Target Operating Model through three major milestones:

31 January 2024

The introduction of health certification on imports of medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food and feed of nonanimal origin from the EU. The removal of pre notification requirements for low-risk plant and plant products from the EU.

30 April 2024

The introduction of documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks on medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin from the EU. Existing inspections of high-risk plants/plant products from the EU will move from destination to Border Control Posts. The UK government will also begin to simplify imports from non-EU countries. This will include the removal of health certification and routine checks on low-risk animal products, plants, plant products from non-EU countries as well as reduction in physical and identity check levels on medium-risk animal products from non-EU countries.

31 October 2024

The requirement for Safety and Security declarations for imports into Great Britain from the EU or from other territories where the waiver applies will come into force from 31 October 2024 as set out in the original Target Operating Model. Alongside this, the UK government will introduce a reduced dataset for imports and use of the UK Single Trade Window will remove duplication where possible across different pre-arrival datasets – such as pre-lodged customs declarations.

Support with the Border Target Operating Model

These post-Brexit checks on goods entering Great Britain will commence at the end of January 2024. For further advice and guidance regarding the Border Target Operating Model, please contact our company on 0118 932 8447 or by e-mail: info@icsglobalservices.co.uk

ICS Global Services Limited