Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks at border control posts (BCPs)
Information on what a border control post (BCP) is and the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks that take place there.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
You must take your consignment to a border control posts (BCP) if it needs an sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) check. Each BCP looks after certain commodity types.
There are BCPs in many commercial ports and airports across the UK. There are a few BCPs away from the point of entry.
Find a list of BCPs that are approved for your commodity type:
- animals, animal products and high risk food of non animal origin (HRFNAO) BCPs
- plant and plant products BCPs
Check with the BCP to find out the opening hours and charges.
What a BCP is
A BCP is an inspection post where SPS checks are made on imported goods that are under SPS controls, to protect the UK’s biosecurity. BCPs check goods that have a risk to human and animal health, environmental health or animal welfare.
Port health Authorities in England and local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales will do identity and physical checks at the BCP.
Document check
The document check is to make sure that the information in the documentation is consistent and correct, and that import requirements are met. For example, where a health certificate is required. The document check is often done remotely, before the consignment arrives in Great Britain.
Checks done at a BCP
If your consignment is called to a BCP for an SPS check, the consignment will go through 2 types of checks:
- an identity check
- a physical inspection
The consignment may need to be unloaded from the vehicle and taken to the inspection building for physical inspection.
Your consignment may also need to go through a customs check at the BCP.
Identity check
This checks that the commodities’ identification marks, stamps and other necessary product or package information match the declaration on the health certificate or documentation.
In some cases, once the identity check at the BCP is complete, the port health authority will say your consignment does not need a physical inspection as well.
Physical inspection
There may be a physical inspection. Inspectors will inspect the goods for signs of pest and disease which could be a biosecurity risk. This can include:
- checks on the consignment packaging and means of transport
- taking a sample of the product to look for pathogenic micro-organisms or illegal contaminants such as veterinary drugs residues or heavy metals
What happens after the SPS check
After the identity check and physical inspection, one of the following 3 things may happen:
- the consignment is approved and can travel to the place of destination
- some more action is needed to approve the consignment, like giving the correct documentation
- the consignment is rejected and will need to be sent back to the exporting country or destroyed
Goods transiting through the Great Britain
You may need to have the consignments seal checked at the BCP, if the export health certificate by the competent authority in the exporting country has an official seal requirement.
How to prepare for an SPS check
To help with an SPS check, make sure that you:
- submit an import notification before your consignment arrives
- attach correct and complete documentation to the import notification
- make sure that the information in the import notification and customs declaration matches
- make sure that the consignment travels with any paperwork required, is packaged with clear and correct identification
- where possible, make sure that the transport is loaded in a way that provides easy access for inspectors to complete identity and physical checks
It may be useful to give the transporter a copy of the import notification and the estimated time of arrival you provided in the import notification.
Cost of an SPS check
You will need to pay a charge for SPS checks. The charge is based on the type of consignment and its risk level.
Each port health authority or local authority calculates their owns charges for SPS checks and publishes them on their website. Check with the individual port health authority or local authority about how to pay them, before your consignment arrives.
Find out the charges for SPS checks on:
Common user charge (CUC)
You will need to pay the common user charge for any imported animal products, plant and plant products arriving through the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel that move under SPS controls.
Non compliance
Consignments that do not meet official controls may be returned to the exporting country or destroyed. For example, consignments that arrive without an import notification or with incorrect, incomplete or missing documentation.
The importer covers the cost for the loss of the consignment and its disposal. The cost to destroy your consignment depends on the load size of the consignment.
Get help
Contact the public health authority or local authority if you need more information about a BCP.