Holyhead’s Brexit border checks: Where UK and Welsh governments are up to with new facilities

Brexit has meant the implementation of new border checks on EU goods entering the UK – including at Holyhead port.

While the EU implemented its checks immediately following Brexit on January 1 the UK is phasing them in – partly due to the fact facilities were not ready.

In Holyhead there will be two types of checks carried out by UK Government’s HMRC and Welsh Government, with both needing separate facilities.

What are the checks and when will they start:

January 2022: Full customs declarations will need to be made at the time of import for all goods. Any applicable tariffs will be payable on import. This will be the responsibility of HMRC. From July 2022: A UK entry summary declaration is needed. Safety and security declarations summarise the goods contained in a consignment.

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks

The import and export of live animals, products of animal origin and some plants and other agri-food products are subject to additional checks at the border to ensure they comply with food safety and biosecurity regulations. This will be the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

January 2022: Imports of products of animal origin and high-risk food not of animal origin will require pre-notification to the UK authorities via IPAFFS.

July 2022: Most products subject to SPS requirements will need to have the correct health documentation and transit through a designated Border Control Post equipped to handle the goods in question and be subject to checks.

What’s happening with the facilities?

As yet the facilities have not been built as the clock ticks down although HMRC has a ‘Transit Lite’ facility at the former RoadKing site at Parc Cybi.

Welsh Government’s Parc Cybi Border Control Post for Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks

A consultation on the site was held this spring and it is now going through an accelerated planning process. Once operational average, around 25-30 HGVs are expected at the site throughout every 24-hour period, with 75 staff required.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Following the consultation period, we received feedback from the community and technical stakeholders.

“This has informed the design of the facility together with surveys carried out on the site.

“A planning application has been submitted to the Welsh Government’s Planning Directorate for consideration by Welsh Ministers through a Special Development Order.”

Customs Post

Finding the site has been something of an issue with the RoadKing truck stop eventually bought after an on/off deal saga. As with the Border Post planning has not yet been secured.

A HMRC spokesperson said: “In advance of the submission of any planning application, we will be carrying out a public consultation exercise this autumn.

“We are keen to seek comments from the local community to help inform our final proposals. We will provide more details on this shortly.”

The 200 worker site will join HMRC’s six Inland Border Facilities (IBFs) and will provide extra capacity for any physical checks that may be needed on goods being moved under specific customs processes.

A successful transfer of the Transit Lite to the location of the new Holyhead IBF took place on 6 September and operations resumed on 7 September. Full operations will move to the site in due course.

Once complete, the Inland Border Facility site will function as an Office of Departure/Destination for goods moving under the Common Transit Convention (CTC) and will enable hauliers to complete the necessary paperwork before continuing their journey to the border.

A spokesperson said: “We are currently processing documentary checks for CTC goods movements and ATA Carnets at the Holyhead Transit Lite IBF site. Full functionality will be introduced in due course, this will include Office of Transit and physical CTC compliance checks.”

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