What are safety and security declarations and why do we have them?
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-31)

Provides information on the background and legislation of these guidelines.

Background

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales including the three Crown Dependencies) has requirements for safety and security declarations on imports (known as entry summary declarations) and exports (known as exit summary declarations) as a signatory to the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards (https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/facilitation/instrument-and-tools/frameworks-of-standards/safe_package.aspx).

Since leaving the EU, Great Britain is no longer part of a safety and security zone with the EU. A range of border controls have been introduced in stages from the end of the transition period. For safety and security, these have consisted of:
- exit summary declarations have been required for exports from Great Britain into the EU since 1 October 2021
- entry summary declarations have been required for imports into Great Britain from the EU from 31 January 2025
This means that safety and security declaration requirements now apply to all imports into Great Britain from EU and non-EU countries and all exports from Great Britain (including Remain on Board goods).

When moving goods to and from countries outside the UK, customs requirements including safety and security procedures, should be checked with the relevant customs authorities of that country.

Northern Ireland has requirements in place for certain movements from Great Britain and imports from non-EU countries.

Entry summary declarations have been required for freight moved into Northern Ireland from Great Britain since 1 January 2021.

For parcels moved into Northern Ireland from Great Britain entry summary declarations will be needed for:
- business to business parcels moving directly from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (to note: business to consumer, consumer to business and consumer to consumer parcels moving directly from GB to Northern Ireland do not need to submit entry summary declarations)
- consumer to consumer parcels moving directly from Great Britain to Northern Ireland do not require safety and security declarations
- indirect parcels (business to business, business to consumer, consumer to business and consumer to consumer) moving from rest of the world to GB to Northern Ireland, EU to GB to Northern Ireland and GB to Northern Ireland to EU
For movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, the government has legislated to guarantee unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the whole of the UK internal market. For safety and security, that means there’s no requirement to submit entry or exit summary declarations for qualifying Northern Ireland goods (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-qualifying-goods-from-northern-ireland-to-the-rest-of-the-uk#which-goods-are-qualifying-northern-ireland-goods) entering the rest of the UK from Northern Ireland, if they’ve arrived:
- directly from Northern Ireland to Great Britain
- indirectly from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, passing through Ireland
If you’re moving non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods, you must submit an export declaration before the goods depart from Northern Ireland. This must include safety and security data. You’ll also need to submit an entry summary declaration before the goods arrive in the rest of the UK.

Legislation

The requirements for safety and security declarations are underpinned by the following legislation:
- Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2013/952/contents) sets out the general rules and procedures applicable to goods brought into or taken out of Great Britain
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2015/2446/contents/wales) (as amended by The Customs (Safety and Security Procedures) Regulations 2023 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1011/contents/made)) sets out the requirements for Entry Summary Declarations, including waivers and timing requirements, as well as the electronic system to submit entry summary declarations will be specified here: Notice to be made under Commission Implementation Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-to-be-made-under-commission-implementation-regulation-eu-20152447-of-24-november-2015/notice-to-be-made-under-commission-implementation-regulation-eu-20152447-of-24-november-2015)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2015/2447) outlines the necessary requirements in relation to security and safety standards, and formalities on the export of goods