Importing goods from the EU into the UK – new obligations

From 31 January 2025, new regulations for the importation of goods from the European Union into the UK come into force. All such imports will require the submission of an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) via Safety and Security Great Britain (S&S GB).

The responsibility for submitting the ENS declaration rests with the carriers. However, they may authorise others, such as importers, brokers or customs agents, to submit the declaration on their behalf.

It is worth knowing that the deadlines for filing the ENS vary depending on the means of transport used (they are different for road, sea, air, rail, inland waterway, as well as RoRo and via Eurotunnel).

At the same time, the scope of data required in the ENS declaration will be simplified from 31 January 2025. There are now 20 mandatory fields for all declarations, eight conditional fields required in certain situations and nine optional fields. Companies already filing declarations for non-EU goods can benefit from these simplifications by limiting themselves to filling in only the required fields.

Businesses importing goods from the EU into the UK are recommended to contact their supply chain partners now to establish who will be responsible for filing the ENS declaration. It is worth choosing the most convenient method, for example by purchasing the right software or using a customs agency. Familiarising yourself with the new requirements and declaration deadlines for your chosen mode of transport will facilitate a smooth adjustment to the new requirements and avoid delays in the process of importing goods into the UK.

Visit the GOV.UK website for more information on the upcoming changes and associated guidelines.

Author: Szymon Kaminski
based on information available on GOV.UK and industry materials