On Friday (9 February), the Home Office released details of the standards and requirements for border infrastructure and ports under the 2025 UK Border Strategy.
The Home Office’s UK Border Requirements: National Statement of Expectation sets out the requirements of each part of the UK’s border infrastructure under the 2025 strategy, ranging from server rooms and customs declaration points, to command and control units.
The technical requirements are laid out in documents known as the Border Force Infrastructure Standards (BFIS) and can be accessed by port operators on Viewpoint, a secured platform.
Transparency
Border Force, the UK’s border agency, said the statement would provide “clarification of existing border processes” and “transparency” of the port development process.
Port operators are now being urged to engage with Border Force before agreeing to any commercial or architectural plans, with the approval process requiring at least six months' advanced notice.
The statement sets out a high-level overview of the ‘Estates Delivery Process’ for Border Force approval of any border project, with at least twelve steps required before final sign-off. Construction can still take place during this time.
Sour taste
Richard Ballantyne, CEO of the British Ports Association, said that many ports had been left with a "sour taste" when in preparing for post-Brexit infrastructure changes, although said that the principle of clarifying what was reasonable was a welcome one.
“Unfortunately the provision of facilities for border agencies at our ports has been consistently misunderstood by various parts of government. In the past, ports have had requests for anything from exclusive parking spaces, to Sky TV and even picnic benches for borders staff, as well as being asked to foot the bill for the relocation or replacement of certain borders equipment.
"However the new proposal to impose time rules on ports certainly needs more flexibility and we look forward to discussing this with the Hone Office. Hopefully with some refining the standards will mean the different parts of government work together to share facilities and better appreciate the cost and space restrictions there are at port terminals."
Wider strategy
The move reportedly complements efforts to reform the UK’s borders, in line with the 2025 UK Border Strategy and the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).
Ilona Kawka, digital trade and customs specialist at the Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT), said:
“This alignment will support the UK’s strategic goals by giving port operators specific advice and standards for infrastructure and operations at the UK border, thus increasing the overall effectiveness and efficiency of border management while remaining consistent with existing models.”
Guidance
While the aim would be to provide clear guidance for ports and other border operators, a set of stringent standards could create delays in the short term as operators divert resources towards implementing them.
Kawka said that implementing the BFIS would present both “short-term challenges and long-term benefits” to the border industry, noting that smaller ports might face the biggest challenges in adapting to the new requirements.
Digital future
The statement also included a specific comment on the “enhanced digital end-to-end customer journey.”
A focus that included digitalisation could lead to a “better-organised, structured and efficient border control system” over the long term, said Kawka.
“Over time, the adoption of digital technologies and increased operational efficiencies are expected to produce visible results, allowing for smoother and more secure trade and travel.”
BTOM growing pains
Over the last few months there have been a number of changes to the UK’s border model, including the introduction of new checks on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods entering Britain from the EU.
Last week, the IOE&IT Daily Update reported that border checks on animals, introduced under BTOM, could be waived should the UK’s ports become overwhelmed.
An automated clearance process called the ‘timed out decision contingency feature’, or Todcof, will be applied in the case of medium-risk animal products “on an interim basis” as the government continues implementation of new measures on imports.
Under Todcof, a consignment may be cleared for entry even if “a documentary check [has] not been undertaken”.
