2 https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/fsa-21–06–13-ce-report-annex.pdf 12 Fourth Special Report of Session 2021–22 At the end of the transition period, when the EU introduced full third country controls on both imports and exports, the Government adopted a pragmatic and flexible approach and recognising the impact which the first COVID-19 lockdown had had on businesses, decided to introduce controls in stages. From October 2021, pre-notification requirements will be required for products of animal origin (POAO), certain animal by-products (ABP), and high risk food not of animal origin (HRFNAO). Health certificate requirements for POAO and certain ABP will also come into effect. From January 2022, physical checks of POAO, certain ABP, germinal products, and HRFNAO will be introduced at designated Border Control Posts (BCPs) and checks of high priority plants and plant products will move from places of destination to designated BCPs. The requirement for pre-notification and phytosanitary certificates will also be extended to all regulated plants and plant products. From March 2022, checks on live animal and low risk plants and plant products will occur at designated BCPs. This phased implementation reduces delivery risk and provides Port Health Authorities, importers, hauliers, exporters and their agents, sufficient time to prepare and familiarise themselves with these new requirements. The temporary, practical arrangements recognise the need to ensure biosecurity, food safety, and animal welfare standards across the UK whilst balancing the need to remove barriers to trade. Throughout the process the Government has worked to support implementation. It has liaised with traders, hauliers, the border industry, and business representative organisations on the introduction of full import controls. In December 2021 it awarded £200m to ports to support their delivery of Border Control Posts. Its Border and Protocol Delivery Group (BPDG) continues to carefully review progress towards completing all infrastructure necessary for the implementation of the new controls. Defra will continue to report to the Committee on progress towards introducing the SPS import controls and checks. In relation to digitising import processes, Defra is developing the functionality to clone certificates from our trade partners’ national systems into import notifications within Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS), making importers’ lives easier and moving towards removing the necessity for physical paperwork to accompany a consignment. This will initially be tested with specific third countries through a private beta, however the intention is to widen this to facilitate cloning of export certificates from the EU’s TRACES system. Additionally, we are developing the functionality to accept e-certificates, however, ultimately the development required to produce an e-certificate is the responsibility of the exporting country. In the same way as GB is developing and implementing systems for the digitisation of certification for GB exports travelling to NI and the EU, the development of a digital certification system for EU goods travelling to GB, would be a matter for the EU and/or their member states’ technical teams. Fourth Special Report of Session 2021–22 13