Moving controlled goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
This guidance explains how to check if your goods are controlled when using the Trader Support Service.
Content
- What are controlled goods?
- How to check if your goods are controlled
- Before moving controlled goods
- Declaring controlled goods on the Trader Support Service
- Examples of required documentation and useful links
What are controlled goods?
Controlled goods are subject to special health, licensing, or environmental controls requiring endorsement of a licence, certificate, or document or control due to their nature. These controls will usually require a licence, certificate or other supporting document.
The guidance on Simplified Process for Internal Market Movements (SPIMM) includes a table illustrating the types of goods that are normally classified as controlled.
How to check if your goods are controlled
When you move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland you must follow the relevant national or international laws.
To check if your goods are controlled, you'll need to:
- find the right commodity code for your goods
- check if any import controls apply
Finding the right commodity code for your goods
Find out some more information about the goods you want to move. To do this you can:
- check your product's technical specifications, application, and origin
- use the Northern Ireland Online Tariff to identify the product category and commodity code, or visit finding the right commodity codes for your goods if you need help
Check if any import controls apply
Once you have found the commodity code on the Online Tariff, check if import controls apply under the EU and UK Import controls sections. If controls apply, read the conditions to find out if your goods need a licence or certificate, or if an exemption applies.
Your goods will be treated as controlled unless they meet an exemption.
For more guidance on how to use the Online Tariff, visit finding information you need for your declaration using the Northern Ireland Online Tariff.
Before moving controlled goods
Visit the Northern Ireland Online Tariff to see what controls apply to your goods. Check for any certificates, licences, or other documents you may need.
Contact the relevant authorities, such as DEFRA or DAERA, before moving your goods to make sure you meet their requirements.
If you are moving controlled goods, you may need to report for an inspection, use the Check if you need to report for an inspection service.
Declaring controlled goods on the Trader Support Service
Controlled goods using the Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP)
If you use a simplified declaration on the Trader Support Service, whether your goods are controlled will affect how your goods are declared and how much information you need to provide before they move.
If your goods are not controlled, the Trader Support Service will create an Entry in the Declarant’s Records (EIDR).
If your goods are controlled and are eligible for the Simplified Customs Declaration Process, the Trader Support Service will submit a simplified declaration. You will need to provide more information than for non-controlled goods.
Find out more about completing the Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP) on the Trader Support Service.
In both cases, the importer must complete a supplementary declaration after the goods move.
Ineligible goods
Some goods cannot be declared using the Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP). This includes certain excise goods.
Check the Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP) guidance on ineligible goods and procedures to check if your goods are eligible.
If your goods cannot be declared using this process you should use a full import declaration, known as a standard declaration in the Trader Support Service.
Controlled goods using the Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI)
To move goods using the IMMI, you must first categorise them. As part of this, you must check if your goods are controlled.
Before starting your declaration, use the categorisation tool in the Northern Ireland Online Tariff to check the category of your goods. You will need to know the commodity code, non-preferential origin and when the movement is likely to take place.
If your goods are controlled, they will be either Category 1 or Category 2.
Category 1 goods are not eligible to use the IMMI.
Category 2 goods can use the IMMI, but you must provide more information than for standard goods. You must provide an 8-digit commodity code and the correct additional procedure code based on the controls that apply.
See the guidance on Category 2 goods for details of the information you need to provide.
Controlled goods document code requirements
In all cases, when declaring controlled goods using the Trader Support Service you will need to include document codes on your declaration to meet the control requirements.
You can find the document codes you need to include on your declaration by checking the conditions of the control on the Online Tariff. Read the requirements for each document code to make sure you use the correct one for your goods.
Visit finding the right document code for your goods for more information on document codes and where to find them.
If your goods need a licence, certificate or document, make sure the details on your declaration match the document.
When you check the information you need for your customs declaration using the Northern Ireland Online Tariff, you may find that your goods are exempt from documentary controls. Select Conditions for the relevant control to check whether an exemption applies.
For example, an exemption may apply to products of animal origin imported for research.
If an exemption applies, you may need to use a waiver code on your declaration. Expand Guidance for completing CDS Data Element 2/3 for the relevant code to check what information you need to provide, including whether a document status code is required.
Where the Guidance for completing CDS Data Element 2/3 is not available for the relevant code, check Appendix 5A (National codes) or Appendix 5A (Union codes). These appendices also explain what information must be entered on the declaration, including the status code that must be used with the document code.
You must keep sufficient evidence in your records to show that the goods qualify for the waiver or exemption. You must provide this evidence if requested.
When completing your customs declaration, you will be asked to attach any licences, certificates or supporting documents as part of the document code section.
You should include these when completing the declaration, as this can help avoid delays if your movement is selected for additional checks.
Examples of required documentation and useful links
Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods (SPS)
SPS goods are controlled by customs authorities to protect plant, animal and public health. You can use the following links to find out more about the different SPS controls that apply to movements from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
General Information
Guidance on importing live animals or animal products
Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme
Export or move plants and plant products from Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Import and export of plants | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Trade with Northern Ireland - UK Plant Health Information Portal
Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) scheme
Trading and moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland
Animal and Plant Health Association (APHA) Licence
The Association of Port Health Authorities website
Export or move plants and plant products from Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Import and export of plants
Import and export of plants | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Catch Document
Moving fish and fishery products | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Certificate of Organic Conformity (COI)
Importing organic food, feed and seed to the UK
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Licence
Licences for the import/export of agricultural products
Common Health Entry Document (CHED)
TRACES NT Documentation - European Commission
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Permit
Check if you need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species
Forestry Commission Inspection Document
Import and export of plants and trees | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Import and export of wood and bark | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Chemical goods
Chemical goods are controlled by customs authorities to protect human health, safety and the environment. Controls also help protect national security and prevent the illegal production of drugs and weapons.
You can use the following links to find out more about chemical controls that apply to movements from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Domestic Licence
HSE Approval PIC
Export and import of hazardous chemicals - Prior Informed Consent (PIC) - HSE
The GB Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation - HSE
REACH Certificate of Compliance
UK registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) - HSE, Understanding REACH - ECHA
Excise goods
Excise goods are controlled to make sure excise duty is correctly accounted for and that the rules for holding and moving these goods are followed.
You can use the following links to find out more about how to move excise goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Excise Notices
Receive goods into and remove goods from an excise warehouse (Excise Notice 197) – see section 17 for Northern Ireland arrangements
Approval as a Registered Consignor (section 7 of Excise Notice 196)
Fluorinated gases and ozone depleting substances
Fluorinated gases and ozone-depleting substances are controlled to protect the ozone layer and mitigate climate change. You can use the following links to find out more about controls that apply to movements of Fluorinated gases and ozone-depleting substances from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Certificate of conformity
Certificate of conformity for new vehicles (opens in a new tab)
Verification report
Environment Agency (opens in a new tab)
Fluorinated gas (F gas): guidance for users, producers and traders (opens in a new tab)
Rough diamonds
Rough diamonds are controlled to stop conflict diamonds entering the legitimate diamond trade and protect the integrity of the rough diamond supply chain. You can use the following links to find out more about controls that apply to movements of rough diamonds from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Kimberly Certificate
Export rough diamonds: special rules (opens in a new tab)
Contact the Government Diamond Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office at kpuk@fco.gov.uk