06 April 2023

UK LAUNCHES DRAFT TARGET OPERATING MODEL

On 5 April, the UK government published the long awaited draft Border Target Operating Model, setting out a new approach to importing into GB that will be progressively introduced from the end of October 2023. 

In yesterday’s online introduction to the draft proposals the government said: ‘The Border Target Operating Model ... sets out a new model for importing goods into the UK from countries inside and outside the EU.’ ‘It will move us closer to our goal of creating the most effective border in the world, by introducing an improved regime of sanitary, phytosanitary and security controls on imports.’ The government proposals include a new "single trade window" under which traders need only submit information once and in one place, which is expected to be fully operational by 2027. 

Arrangements for goods moving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain will follow the Windsor deal agreed with the EU in February on post-Brexit trade rules for the region. The government added that none of the additional checks or controls set out in the new model will apply to imports into Northern Ireland from the EU, providing Northern Ireland traders with full access to the single market. 

Over the next 6 weeks, an online survey is be available for stakeholders to provide comments. The final version of the Border Target Operating Model will be published by the end of the year. 

The full draft can be found here

Source: Gov.uk, Reuters