ENS mandatory in Great Britain from the 31st January 2025

Since the UK left the European Union back in 2021, there has been a waiver on the requirement to provide Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) for goods entering Great Britain.

This waiver will end on the 31st January 2025 and from that date, it will be mandatory for all goods entering Great Britain to have lodged a separate ENS declaration to the Safety and Security Great Britain (S&S GB) system.

The ENS must be submitted before the goods arrive at the border. A Safety and Security Declaration (ENS) is used by GB border authorities to analyse the potential risk caused to their territory by goods crossing their border. 

Who is responsible for submitting the ENS?

It is the responsibility of the active carrier of the goods to submit the ENS declaration.

If the goods are travelling by:

-air = the legal requirement is with the party that has contracted and issued the air waybill.

-sea = the legal requirement is with the party that has contracted and issued the bill of lading

-roro = the haulage company is responsible for lodging the declaration for accompanied goods

        = the ferry operator is responsible for lodging the declaration for unaccompanied goods

        = the haulage company is responsible for lodging the declaration for goods travelling by Eurotunnel

When to submit ENS declarations

Goods travelling by air

-for short haul flights (less than 4 hours) = by take off time

-for long haul flights = at least 4 hours before arrival

Goods travelling by Eurotunnel

-for road traffic = at least 1 hour before arrival at the Eurotunnel terminal (at Coquelles, France)

Goods travelling by rail

-for short rail journey (less than 2 hours) = at least 1 hour before train arrival

-for long rail journey = at least 2 hours before train arrival

Goods arriving by RORO

-for RORO accompanied freight = at least 2 hours before arrival of the ferry operator

-for RORO unaccompanied freight = at least 2 hours before arrival of the ferry operator

Goods travelling by sea

-for maritime containerised cargo = at least 24 hours before loading at the port of departure

-for maritime bulk or break-bulk cargo = at least 4 hours before arrival

-for short sea journeys = at least 2 hours before arrival

What You Will Need to Submit for S&S GB

Similar to existing GB to EU ENS requirements, for S&S GB declarations carriers will need to submit the following to ensure you can board ferries and LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) Freight trains  -

• Consignor name & address (EORI number, if held)
• Consignee name & address (EORI number, if held)
• Carrier GB EORI number (for driver accompanied vehicles) - apply for an EORI
• Description of goods
• Reference number
• Vehicle Identification Number (for accompanied, IMO (unaccompanied)
• Trailer seal (or ‘no seal’)
• Border entry point (name of port or HMRC location code)
• ETA time and date
• Total no. of packages and weight
• Type of packages
• Any marks and reference numbers

Any carrier not providing the correct declaration will not be able to travel and may face penalties.

Goods Exempt from Requiring a Safety and Security Entry Summary Declaration