Statutory guidance

Controlled goods list

Updated 10 June 2021

This statutory guidance was withdrawn on 24 February 2022

This public notice has been withdrawn and replaced by Notices made under the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 and Notices made under the Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 to reflect changes from 1 January 2022 about delaying import declarations for goods that are not controlled into Great Britain from Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Regulation 29C(5) of the Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (as to be inserted by the Customs (Transitional Arrangements) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020) requires HMRC to publish a notice specifying controlled goods for the purposes of Regulation 29C(4)(d). Regulation 29C(4)(d) requires that the transitional EIDR simplified Customs declaration process may not be used in respect of,

“a declaration of such controlled goods as are specified in a notice published by HMRC (‘controlled goods’)”.

The proposed draft public notice setting out what are controlled goods for this purpose is as follows.

The following paragraphs have force of law, by virtue of Regulations 29C(5) of the Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018.

The following is a list of controlled goods for the purpose of Regulation 29C(4)(d) of the Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations. The transitional EIDR simplified Customs declaration process is set out in Part 4, Chapter 3, Section A1 of the Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018. The transitional EIDR simplified Customs declaration process cannot be used in respect of controlled goods. All of the goods set out in first column which are further described in the second column are considered to be ‘controlled goods’.

Type of good	More details of which goods are covered
Excise goods	– alcohol (wine and made-wine, beer, cider and perry, spirits), low alcohol beverages, denatured alcohol, imported composite goods containing alcohol (for example, liquor chocolates) – tobacco products (for example, cigarettes, cigars, hand-rolling tobacco, chewing tobacco, other smoking tobacco, unmanufactured tobacco and tobacco refuse, tobacco for heating), tobacco product manufacturing machines – hydrocarbon oil – goods subject to Climate Change Levy – biofuels and fuel substitutes – road fuel gases
Controlled drugs	Controlled drugs specified in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, as amended, and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, as amended, including cocaine, diamorphine (heroin), morphine, opium, cannabis, amphetamine, lysergide (LSD), barbiturates and many others.
Drug precursor chemicals	Any drug precursor chemicals within categories 1, 2a, 2b, 3 and 4 of the Council Regulation (EC) No.111/2005 as enacted by The Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Community External Trade) Regulations 2008.
Toxic chemicals	Chemicals under Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s (CWC) imported into the UK from a State Party to a CWC Schedule 1 licence holder, and under an import licence issued by the CWC UK National Authority in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Endangered species	Any specimen of a species included in Annexes A to D of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (‘Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97’). ‘Species’ and ‘specimen’ have the same meaning as in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97.
Fishery products	Fishery products for which catch certificates (and processing statements and storage of documents if applicable) will need to be submitted in advance of importing fish into the UK.
Marketing standards – fertilisers	Solid ammonium nitrate fertilisers when the following applies: – a nitrogen content of more than 28% of its weight – in a consignment weighing 500 kilograms or more
Anti-personnel mines	Under licence issued for the exclusive purpose of mine detection, clearance and destruction training only.
Explosives	Explosives that have been assigned a hazard classification by a signatory to the European Agreement Concerning for International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) and hold a Competent Authority Document (CAD) which specifies the hazard classification and any conditions in relation to the transport of the explosives.
Firearms	The commercial import of all firearms, including some military goods such as cannons, torpedoes and missiles, but with the exception of some air rifles and pistols.
Pyrotechnic articles, including fireworks	–
Military goods	Items specifically designed or modified for military use, for example percussion caps, detonators, signalling flares, armoured vehicles, telescopic sights or other optical devices, collectors’ pieces or antiques.
Nuclear materials	Under licence only, includes medical radioisotopes.
Offensive weapons	Specific items under licence only.
Realistic imitation firearms	Realistic imitation firearms imported for a valid reason – see the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Sections 36 and 27) for more information.
Torture equipment	Goods to be used for the exclusive purpose of public display in a museum in view of their historic significance. For advice contact: enquiries.ilb@trade.gov.uk.
Ozone depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons	Imports of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and are controlled under the Montreal Protocol (MP). HFCs imported, either in bulk or contained in products or equipment, by businesses registered on the GB HFC registry. ODS imported under licence.
Rough diamonds	Only when regulated by the Kimberley Process (KP) Certification Scheme.
Anti-dumping duty and countervailing duties	The anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty measures covers a range of goods, including some products from the following sectors: – fertilisers – biodiesel – ceramics – steel
Steel safeguards	Tariff safeguards relating to the importation of steel and steel products. See chapters 72 and 73 of the UK Integrated Tariff for more information.
Sanction goods and weapons of mass destruction related goods	Goods subject to UK sanctions or specific goods subject to import licensing controls under UK sanctions (for example Iran and North Korea). List of UK sanctions currently in place.