Guidance

Movements to temporary storage facilities

Find out about movements to temporary storage facilities from border locations in Great Britain operating the pre-lodgement model.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Goods with pre-lodged temporary storage declarations can be imported through border locations in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) that are operating the pre-lodgement model, and transported to a temporary storage facility provided they meet certain requirements.

This will not affect the Movement in Temporary Storage option that is available for use between 2 inventory linked temporary storage locations.

Temporary storage facility operators receiving goods

To receive goods with pre-lodged temporary storage declarations, you will need to:

  • be fully inventory-linked
  • make sure that the temporary storage declaration for the goods is pre-lodged into your inventory system and a consignment reference is generated - a consignment reference must be:

    • given to the importer or their representative (who will need to give it to the haulier) before the goods leave the EU for Great Britain
    • individual to the consignment manifested on the inventory system in use
  • keep a record of the Great Britain port of arrival and include this on the inventory system record
  • accept that you take on the liability for any customs debt for the goods as soon as they arrive in Great Britain
  • have received the goods at the temporary storage facility by the end of the next working day from their arrival into Great Britain
  • update the inventory record upon arrival of goods at the temporary storage facility

Find out more information about managing your temporary storage facility.

You will also need to follow steps to get goods through customs if you’re moving through a border location using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.

Published 7 September 2020
Last updated 31 December 2021 + show all updates
  1. The guidance has been updated with the new rules that apply from 1 January 2022 for goods that are under pre-lodged declarations and are moved through a Great Britain border location into a temporary storage facility.

  2. The last date for goods that meet certain requirements with pre-lodged temporary storage declarations that can be imported through border locations in Great Britain that do not have existing customs control systems, and can be transported to a temporary storage facility has been changed from 30 June 2021 to 31 December 2021.

  3. First published.