Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have a mechanism to identify specific inbound goods for inspection prior to those goods reaching the UK.

A risk-based, intelligence-led approach is taken at the Border to tackle the highest and most significant risks before arrival. This approach includes risk-based pre- and post-clearance checks, regular monitoring of supply chains to identify any potentially illicit trade in cooperation with international partners and providing education to traders on their responsibilities.

Entry summary declarations (also known as an ENS) submitted by carriers, are used to identify risks on goods before they arrive. They are part of the international standard for safety and security set up by the World Customs Organisation in their SAFE Framework.

Where the Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) is used for inbound goods with pre-lodged customs declarations, goods requiring checks are identified before they disembark. In other circumstances where customs declarations have been pre-lodged goods may be identified for checks provisionally.

Imports of all goods which are regulated for sanitary or phytosanitary purposes must be pre-notified via the Imports of Animals, Products, Food and Feed System or an equivalent system for plants and plant products. This information is used to target risk-based checks of these imports, to safeguard UK biosecurity.