The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has today published its initial Targeted Operating Model (TOM) risk categorisation for EU imports into the UK. The categorisation will affect the movement of animals, animal products, plants and plant products of EU & EFTA origin, with the exclusion of Norway and Iceland for plant-related goods.

The TOM will lay out risk statuses of high, medium and low levels and will offer details of how the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regime will be applied. The model will be applied to goods imported into Great Britain from 31st October 2023.

The categorisation is designed to be dynamic and adaptable as risk levels fluctuate, with animal and animal product risks being assessed against biosecurity and food safety factors such as disease and pest risk levels. There will be an equivalent biosecurity risk assessment in place for plants and plant products.

Some specific

groups, such as some dairy, composites and fruit and veg, have been placed in the low risk category from 31st October, pending further assessments. Any amendments to the TOM risk categories will not take place prior to April 2024, with any changes being communicated well in advance of this date.

It is important to understand the TOM risk level of any animal, animal product, plant and plant product good that you may import from the EU into Great Britain and be aware of any changes to border processes.

You can see the categories for plants and plant products here, whilst you can view all animal and animal product risk categories here.

If you have any questions regarding your EU imports, please reach out to our team below.