Defra - Common User Charge

June 12th, 2023

Today, the UK government has begun a four-week period of consultation on the proposed methodology and rates of the Common User Charge (CUC) for government-run Border Control Posts (BCPs). In the recently published draft Target Operating Model, the UK government outlined its plan to charge for eligible sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) consignments. The charge would recover operating costs for government-run Border Control Posts (BCPs).

The charging model has been designed to minimise the impact across all businesses. It welcomes feedback on the impacts of the proposal on businesses of all sizes and operating different business models. We are particularly keen not to disproportionately impact small business. It is seeking feedback from stakeholders on how they see the charging model will impact their business, and ways to mitigate this.

This consultation will run from 12/06/2023 to 09/07/2023. Responses should be received by no later than 23:59 on 09/07/2023. We ask for stakeholders’ responses on Citizen Space consultation site or via the GOV.UK page. If traders are unable to use Citizen Space, they can download the consultation documents and return responses via email to BCPcharging@defra.gov.uk