Guidance

Information for importers

Updated 18 December 2024

Please read this information if you or your clients are involved in importing goods into Great Britain (GB) from the EU.

Background

From 31 January 2025, all EU imports into Great Britain will require a safety and security (S&S) declaration. You can find a full list of countries this applies to.

You need to know that:

  • carriers or hauliers are legally responsible for submitting safety and security declarations. Your carrier may ask you as the importer, or another party in the supply chain, to lodge the safety and security declaration on their behalf. This may mean you need to supply additional information to your carrier, haulier or third party
  • if you have not already done so, you should now discuss with your haulier or carrier to understand their plans for submitting safety and security declarations for EU imports from 31 January. This may also include discussing whether there is any additional information they will need you to provide in order to complete the declarations
  • those ready to start submitting safety and security declarations before 31 January 2025 are encouraged to do so

How to submit safety and security declarations

Safety and security declarations are submitted into an IT platform called S&S GB. There are different options for submitting, such as buying specialist software.