Transition to border control posts and control points

As the Place of Destination (PoD) scheme ends on 31st December 2021, the government have started to share important details of the Border Control Posts and Control Points that will replace it.   

During webinars in July and August, Defra have outlined the details of the proposed facilities to stakeholders and reassured members of the industry that the systems are capable of handling the volume and complexity of consignments likely to arrive for inspection. Defra have highlighted the significant recruitment drive which has resulted in 183 additional inspectors supporting existing personnel, who will work at one of 163 Border Control Posts or 34 Control Points.     

Border Control Posts are purpose-built facilities at points of entry to the UK, which will enable plant health checks to be carried out by trained inspectors. They will enable checks on all goods, not just Plant Health regulated commodities, and will be manned by inspectors. The Plant Health Portal website has been updated with information on how BCPs will work, as well as where they will be located. 

Control Points (CP) will be offered as an inland (i.e. away from point of entry) alternative to BCP where SPS checks of plants and plant products can take place under customs supervision on demand. They are authorised as a temporary storage facility and meet the same minimum requirements as a BCP in terms of facilities and resource to facilitate inspections. CPs are designated by Defra and APHA and must provide the same biosecurity safeguards as a BCP.

The plant health section will be updated to reflect the latest information available.

Further reading:

Plant Health Portal: Border Control Posts and Control Points