CERTEX Transition for Northern Ireland Import Declarations - 15th September 2025
From 15th September 2025, controls on Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) goods for Northern Ireland imports will pass from ALVS/BTMS to CERTEX.
This will involve changes in the format of the CHED reference number and in the document code used for declaring a CHED-PP.
Imports to GB, and NIRMS movements from GB to Northern Ireland, are not impacted by CERTEX, but will be subject to changes in the permitted document status codes.
CHED-PP
The CHED-PP controls on CERTEX will be conducted using document code C085 but we do not anticipate the EU updating the TARIC measures by 15th September 2025 to mandate C085. In order to ensure that the CHED-PP is declared against C085, new validation was introduced which mandates declaration of C085 on Northern Ireland import declarations if either of the document codes N002 or N851 is declared. This will mean that the CHED-PP identification will need to be declared against both C085 and N002/N851. The change to mandate C085 applies regardless of the status code declared with N002 or N851, and also applies to NIRMS movements. This also applies to Supplementary Declarations using Additional Declaration Type Code Y, even if C085 was not included on the Simplified Frontier Declaration.
Appendix 5A has been amended to include a note against document codes C085, N002 & N851 to reflect the requirement to declare C085 with N002 or N851.
The EU proposals on introducing C085 to the EU tariff measures also propose adding an additional three document codes for claiming exemptions from the CHED-PP controls. As these are still under discussion among EU members, they will not be published until they are ready to be applied in the tariff measures.
Format changes to CHED reference numbers
The format of the CHED reference number to be declared against document codes C085, C640, C678, N002, N851 and N853 on Northern Ireland import declarations, other than NIRMS movements, from 15th September 2025 will be changing to comply with CERTEX requirements. Pre-lodged declarations for consignments arriving in Northern Ireland from 15th September 2025 will need to be submitted with the CHED reference number in the new format, or will need to be amended before the goods are arrived. Pre-lodged declarations for consignments arriving in Northern Ireland before 15th September, should continue to use the existing ALVS/BTMS compliant format of CHED reference number.
If a new format CHED reference is declared for goods expected to arrive from 15th September or later but the goods actually arrive before 15th September, the CHED reference may have to be amended to the ALVS/BTMS compatible format before the consignment is arrived on CDS. For an initial period, BTMS will be able to accept CHED references in the new Northern Ireland format. Once we have confirmation that all CHEDs have migrated from ALVS to BTMS, we will publish the amendments to Appendix 5A. This is anticipated to facilitate publication at the start of September but could be delayed until 15th September if there is any delay in the BTMS migration.
If a CERTEX compatible CHED is partially rejected then the CHED reference number will be split into two – the code with an R suffix for the rejected part and with a V suffix for the valid part. The V suffix must be declared as part of the CHED reference number for the part of the consignment which is to be cleared e.g. CHEDA.XI.2024.1234567V and the R suffix for the part of the consignment which is being rejected. The V and R suffixes will be validated by CERTEX and will fail if they are not included when required.
These changes do not impact declarations for goods being imported into GB.
Document status code XX will be removed from the available options with document codes C085, C640, C678, N002, N851 & N853. DEFRA have requested that we also restrict use of document status code XW with these document codes, to NIRMS movements. It is planned to introduce this additional validation later in 2025. If there are any valid objections to this, then please raise them ASAP with details of why a waiver is required beyond those permitted with waiver document codes and the NIRMS provisions.
Changes to non-SPS document codes
Appendix 5A changes for CERTEX related document codes other than those related to SPS goods, have already been delivered.
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See Attached Document |
