HMRC Announces New Requirements for Import Safety Declarations from 2025

Starting 31st January 2025, all goods imported from the EU to Great Britain must be accompanied by a safety and security declaration, also known as an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS), HMRC has announced. This move aims to streamline safety protocols and simplify the import process by reducing the amount of data required on these declarations.

Under the new regulations, businesses will need to fill out a simplified dataset with:

• 20 mandatory fields for all declarations,
• 8 conditional fields required only in specific circumstances,
• and 9 optional fields that can be left blank if not relevant.

Businesses already submitting ENS for imports outside the EU do not need to change existing procedures, though they may opt to benefit from the simplified dataset from January 2025.

Steps for businesses to prepare:

• Begin submitting ENS before the 2025 deadline if ready.
• Coordinate with supply chains to assign responsibility for completing declarations and determine the best methods for submission.
• Consult trade representatives if further guidance is needed.

HMRC also clarified that while carriers or hauliers hold legal responsibility for submitting ENS, an importer or intermediary may submit the declaration on behalf of the carrier. Declarations can be submitted via HMRC’s IT platform, S&SGB, using either specialist software or customs intermediaries.

For more information about further changes, please email enquiries@customsinsights.co.uk or call +44 1304 211 652 to discuss.