Safety and Security Compliance

As of the 31 January 2025, all goods imported into Great Britain must be covered by a Safety & Security declaration (also known as Entry Summary Declaration) unless otherwise covered by an existing waiver.

It is a requirement for both Rest of World and EU traffic to submit an Entry Summary Declaration, including Remain on Board.

I am emailing you today with important information around the Border Force data compliance approach to Safety and Security.

Border Force – Safety & Security Data Compliance Approach – March 2025

The legal requirements to submit a declaration lies with the carrier. This is the operator of the active means of transport on, or in, which the goods are brought into the customs territory.

What we measure:

Connectivity – Carriers connection to SSGB.
Comprehensiveness – submission of declarations for all consignments.
Timeliness – Carriers submitting declarations within mandated time frames.
Completeness – All required fields completed.
Accuracy
a) The data does not meet the required standard, for example null values or generic descriptors
b) The declaration is inaccurate and does not match the goods being imported.

What to expect:

There is an understanding that for many EU carriers this will be a new activity and as such the intention is to work with those carriers to support them in becoming compliant by identifying, alerting and educating carriers of any non-compliance.

If you are not already connected to S&SGB or have not engaged an intermediary to submit declarations on your behalf, you must take immediate action

Continued and/or deliberate non-compliance may result in the following actions;
• Warning Letter.
• Customs Civil Penalty Notice.
• Compliance information will be shared with HMRC teams responsible for schemes such as AEO

For further information on Safety & Security please visit “Preparing for the new Safety and Security declaration requirements” @ Gov.UK.

Regards

BF Safety and Security Communications
SafetyAndSecurity@homeoffice.gov.uk

To Note

HMRC and Home Office have agreed the joint S&S compliance approach, with Home Office leading on S&S Compliance. HMRC have shared your contact details to support this jointly agreed approach to the introduction of Safety & Security declarations on imports from the European Union into Great Britain.
For more information about how we process your data including information about your rights under UK data protection legislation, please see Borders, Immigration and Citizenship privacy information notice.
We intend to share regular S&S compliance updates and best practice guidance via email. If you would like to opt out of receiving these notifications, please contact SafetyAndSecurity@homeoffice.gov.uk