Plant health products - change to customs clearance documents
| HMRC Reference: JCCC CIP (08) 70 |
Customs Information Paper (08) 70 | |
|---|---|
Who should read: |
All importers of controlled plant/plant products, National Clearance Hub officers. |
What is it about: |
Change to the documents required to clear Plant Health controlled goods. |
When effective: |
18 November 2008. |
Extant until/expires: |
Six months from date of issue. |
1. Background
The current position is that all third country imports of plants and certain plant products that are permitted to enter England and Wales must be accompanied by a phytosanitary (plant health) certificate.
A phytosanitary certificate is a statement issued by the plant health authorities in the exporting country that the material to which it relates has been officially inspected in the country of origin or country of despatch, complies with legal requirements for entry into the EU and is free from certain serious pests and diseases.
Customs currently clear third country imports of plants and plant products on the production of the SAD customs declaration, and a faxed copy of the phytosanitary certificate that is sent to the National Clearance Hub at Salford, Manchester.
2. New procedure from 18 November 2008
The new procedure from 18 November 2008 is that all controlled plant health imports into England and Wales will be customs cleared only on receipt of a completed faxed copy of a Quarantine Release Certificate (QRC). Agents or importers will be able to print the QRC from the Defra PEACH system and fax it to the National Clearance Hub. Please note that Customs will no longer clear consignments with a phytosanitary certificate.
QRCs are already in use in Scotland. Imports into Northern Ireland will continue to be cleared on a copy of the phytosanitary certificate.
For more information log onto the Defra website.
Comments or questions should be directed to the Plant Health Imports Helpdesk on Tel 01904 455192 (24 hour coverage)
Email: phsi-importers@defra.gsi.gov.uk (office hours only).
3. HMRC Contact
Ola Fawehinmi
Prohibitions and Restrictions Border Policy
LG 71, 100 Parliament Street
Westminster
London
SW1A 2BQ
Tel: 020 7147 0454
Email Ola Fawehinmi
Issued on the 17 November 2008 by the JCCC Secretary, HM Revenue & Customs, Customs & International Directorate.
If you have a question about the content of this paper please use the details provided in the ‘Contacts’ section. For general HM Revenue & Customs queries speak to the National Advice Service on Tel 0845 010 9000.
For comprehensive guidance on international trade regulation, as well as advice on market information and business growth visit the Businesslink website.
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