Importing SPS controlled goods that interact with ALVS

When submitting import declarations for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controlled goods, the document identifier entered in DE 2/3 must reflect the system used for the Defra pre-notification.

To make sure the Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) applies the correct data matching rules, you should follow the format for the document identifier in DE 2/3 on this page.

For Defra pre-notification submitted on PEACH

For Doc code N002 (conformity certificate), the document identifier should be GBCON

For Doc code N851 (phytosanitary certificate), the document identifier should be GBPHC

For Defra pre-notification submitted on IPAFFS

Although the CHED-PP (for horticultural and plant related products) is available to use on IPAFFs, the corresponding doc code C085 (CHED-PP) is not yet recognised in the CDS Tariff. Document codes N002 (conformity certificate) and Doc code N851 (phytosanitary certificate) should continue to be used on the customs declaration for these product types.

For fruit and vegetable and plants and plant-related products that have been pre-notified on a CHED-PP but declared on the customs declaration under Doc code N002 or Doc code N851, the document identifier in DE 2/3 should be GBCHDyyyy.nnnnnnn.  Yyyy will be the year of the pre-notification followed by a dot and nnnnnnn the 7-digit CHED number generated by IPAFFs.

The above document identifier format should also be used for Live Animals when using Doc code C640 (CHED-A); Products of Animal Origin when using Doc code N853 (CHED-P) and for High-Risk Food Not of Animal Origin when using Doc code C678 (CHED-D).

For Doc code C673 (IUU catch certificate), the document identifier should be GBIUU.

For an IUU pre-notification submitted on IPAFFs, ALVS will utilise the supporting CHED-P for data matching and capture the IUU decision (IUU OK, IUU N/A or IUU HOLD) recorded by Port Health inspectors in Box 42 of the CHED-P Part II to supply the IUU decision.

Providing document codes in DE 2/3 that are not required by the CDS Tariff system

CDS Tariff validation will only accept any additional document codes if the documentary requirements for any ‘all countries’ Prohibition and Restriction measures relevant to the commodity code have been included.

Any additional ALVS document codes that have been declared in DE 2/3 that were not required by Tariff will be passed to ALVS and cause an X00 ‘no match’ message being generated if there is no supporting Defra pre-notification for the product type. 

As an example, there are no requirements for N851 (Phytosanitary Control) within the Customs declaration for Green Bananas (Commodity Code 08039010 00) or for Fresh Lemons (Commodity code 08055010 10).  The only requirement is an N002 (Certificate of Conformity) as per the conditions outlined to satisfy the “HMI Conformity Certificate (fruit and veg) issued in UK” measure in the Online Trade Tariff commodity 0803901000 and commodity 0805501010.

Receipt of X00 “no match” messages

If ALVS generates an X00 “no match” message, the submitter of the CDS declaration or Defra pre-notification will need to correct the data element advised in the message as soon as possible to avoid further delay in customs clearance. This can be done by either submitting or amending an already submitted Defra pre-notification or amending the CDS customs declaration to ensure alignment of the data.

Once corrected, ALVS will re-run its data matching process and, if successful, will then provide a decision notification to CDS.  Failure to correct the mismatch will mean that ALVS is unable to return an inspection decision notification to CDS resulting in the customs declaration continually being held on CDS in a non-cleared state.

ALVS is unable to perform successful data matching where there are multiple customs declarations associated to multiple CHED’s. In a “many to many” matching scenario, you will need to apply for a manual release by completing the relevant manual release form for CDS declarations.

For fish related imports, covered in Chapters 03 and 16 of the Tariff, submitters of Defra pre-notifications should remember to also pre-notify the IUU Catch certificate on IPAFFs in addition to the POAO CHED-P. Failure to do so will result in a no match being generated for the absent IUU pre-notification.

Further checks

CDS messaging services will notify the carrier where SPS consignments need to be taken to a designated Border Control Post (BCP), on arrival in the UK, for a physical examination.

CDS declarations containing SPS controlled goods will not automatically clear once ALVS has returned release decisions if there are other non-ALVS related checks that still need to be carried out, such as CITES checks or outstanding accounting queries that need to be resolved.

CDS messaging services will notify the submitter of the customs declaration if Customs or Border Force checks also need to be performed or other queries have been raised.