Update on 20/1/2022

Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/466, which provides for specific easements of official controls in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, is retained as part of UK law. GB made the necessary legislative changes to extend these easements to 1 July 2021, and then again to 31 December 2021.

This date has been further extended to 1 July 2022.

For plant health, this easement has the following impacts:

• For plants and plant products imported from third countries, GB may accept electronic copies of original phytosanitary certificates from exporting counties where issuing originals is an issue. This measure is conditional on the original certificate being provided as soon as technically feasible.   
• GB will also allow officials to carry out remote documentary checks using available technology
• GB will consider the use of remote and virtual meetings with operators where physical meetings are not feasible.

We will continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 and consider the need for further extensions of this easement as required.