October 2024 — sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) check notifications
Updated 5 December 2024
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This newsletter is about an update on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) check notifications for Common Transit Convention (CTC) transit movements of Products of Animal Origin (POAO) when entering or moving through Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) through Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) locations.
From 30 April 2024, the person responsible for CTC transit POAO consignments that end or move through Great Britain as a ‘landbridge’ movement is notified that an SPS check is required through the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) messaging process.
What has changed
Since October 2024, there have been changes to the way we notify businesses that an SPS check is required at locations using GVMS.
The driver will need to check on GVMS to see if their load has been called for an SPS check at a named border control post (BCP). To assist these checks:
- declarants should include the CTC transit Movement Reference Number (MRN) along with vehicle and trailer registration details in their IPAFFS declaration — this will make sure GVMS messaging is communicated to the driver
- all CTC transit MRNs relating to the load should be included in the Goods Movement Reference (GMR) for the transit movement on GVMS
You can read more information on how to register for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service.
Transit movements that exit Great Britain
When landbridge transit movements exit Great Britain, any SPS checks required will continue to be notified through IPAFFS messaging.
Transit movements that enter and exit Great Britain through non-GVMS locations
For transit movements that enter and exit Great Britain through a non-GVMS location, there will be no change to the way HMRC notify SPS checks. These will continue to be notified using IPAFFS messaging.