From 31 January 2025, any goods imported from the EU to GB must be covered by a Safety and Security declaration (also known as Entry Summary Declarations or ENS). Those who export from GB to the EU, or import from countries outside the EU, are already required to submit Safety and Security declarations.
Businesses who are ready to start submitting Safety and Security declarations before 31 January are encouraged to do so.
To make sure our importing processes are as simple as possible, we’re making it easier to complete Safety and Security declarations by decreasing the amount of information you need to provide.
- Safety and Security declarations support the fight against illicit goods – such as drugs and weapons entering the UK.
- Carriers or hauliers are legally responsible for submitting Safety and Security declarations. A party other than the carrier, such as the importer or an intermediary, can lodge the declaration on the carrier’s behalf, although the carrier is still responsible for making sure the Safety and Security declaration is submitted.
- If you already submit Safety and Security declarations for Rest of World imports, you won’t need to make any changes and should continue to submit declarations as you do currently. But you may be able to benefit from some of the changes below.
Please speak to your supply chains to agree who is responsible for completing Safety and Security declarations for EU to GB imports from 31 January, and the most suitable method for doing so.
If you need more advice, you may want to speak to your trade representative.
Submitting Safety and Security declarations
Safety and Security declarations are submitted into an IT platform called S&SGB. There are different options for submitting Safety and Security declarations, such as purchasing specialist software or using customs agents/intermediaries.
For more information on the options available see the GOV.UK guidance on making an entry summary declaration
Making things easier
From 31 January we’ll reduce the amount of Safety and Security data required on an Entry Summary (ENS) declaration.
There will be 20 mandatory fields [see above] which must be completed for all declarations. There will also be eight conditional fields, which only need to be completed in certain circumstances. The remaining nine fields will be optional to complete or leave blank.
If you already submit Safety and Security declarations for imports from countries outside the EU (or already voluntarily submit them for EU imports), you don’t need to change your existing systems or procedures if you do not wish to. However, you can benefit from the reduced dataset by only completing the mandatory and any relevant conditional fields from 31 January 2025.
For more information on the Safety and Security changes, please visit our Safety and Security page on GOV.UK
