Importing SPS controlled goods that interact with ALVS
Find out how to make sure that data entered into the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is matched correctly with the Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS).
This guide tells you how to format the document identifier entered in data element (DE) 2/3 if you are declaring sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controlled goods.
When you submit your declaration, the Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) will:
- find the Defra pre-notification submitted on the Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFs)
- attempt to get a successful match on the:
- CHED identifier (DE 2/3)
- net weight (DE 6/1) or number of live animals (DE 6/2)
- commodity code (DE 6/14 and DE 6/15)
Defra pre-notifications submitted on IPAFFS
When submitting your pre-notification on IPAFFs, select the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) that represents the product type you are importing.
For example, use the Common Health Entry Document for horticultural and plant related products (CHED-PP) if you are importing:
- horticultural products
- plants
- plant-related products
The document code C085 (CHED-PP) is not recognised in the Customs Declaration Service Tariff. On your customs declaration, use the document codes:
- N002 (conformity certificate)
- N851 (phytosanitary certificate)
For all types of CHED, the document identifier in DE 2/3 should be in the format GBCHDyyyy.nnnnnnn if you’re declaring:
- fruit and vegetables, using document code N002 (CHED-PP)
- plants or plant-related products, using document code N851 (CHED-PP)
- live animals, using document code C640 (CHED-A)
- products of animal origin, using document code N853 (CHED-P)
- high-risk food not of animal origin, using document code C678 (CHED-D)
In this format:
- yyyy is the year the pre-notification was made, followed by a dot
- nnnnnnn is the 7-digit CHED number generated by IPAFFs
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) document code
If you’re using document code C673 (IUU Catch certificate), use the document identifier GBIUU.
ALVS will inform the IUU decision (IUU OK, IUU N/A or IUU HOLD) recorded by Port Health inspectors in Box 42 of the CHED-P Part II.
Document codes in DE 2/3 that are not required by the Customs Declaration Service Tariff system
Customs Declaration Service Tariff validation will only accept additional document codes if you have included all the relevant documentary requirements for any ‘all countries’ Prohibition and Restriction measures which apply to your goods.
You will receive an X00 ‘no match’ message if you:
- declare additional ALVS document codes in DE 2/3 which are not required by Tariff
- have not made a supporting Defra pre-notification
Example — no documentary requirements
You do not need to declare document code N851 (Phytosanitary Control) in the Customs declaration if you’re importing:
- green bananas (Commodity Code 08039019 00)
- fresh lemons (Commodity code 08055010 10)
You will need an N002 (Certificate of Conformity).
Receipt of X00 ‘no match’ messages
If ALVS generates an X00 ‘no match’ message, correct the data element shown in the message as soon as possible. If you made the error on the IPAFFs pre-notification, you can either:
- amend your existing pre-notification
- delete your pre-notification and submit a new one
If you have made the error on the Customs Declaration Service, you can amend your declaration. If your software does not allow you to amend your declaration, you need to cancel your declaration before submitting a new one.
ALVS will re-run its data-matching process. If the mismatch has been corrected, it will provide a decision notification to the Customs Declaration Service.
If the mismatch has not been corrected:
- ALVS cannot provide a decision notification to the Customs Declaration Service
- your customs declaration will not be cleared
ALVS can successfully apply data matching on:
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multiple CHEDs declared on a single customs declaration — for example, where racehorses need a separate CHED-A for each animal
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a single CHED applied across several customs declarations — for example where:
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the CHED covers more than a single exporter or importer
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the consignment is split between free circulation and a special procedure, such as customs warehousing
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ALVS will generate an X00 ‘no match’ on net weight when it receives your first customs declaration if your IPAFFs pre-notification covers:
- a single CHED
- more than one associated customs declaration
ALVS will generate a successful match of the net weight when it receives your final declaration for the CHED.
ALVS cannot match data if there are multiple customs declarations associated to multiple CHED’s. To avoid this matching restriction, you can use multiple line items to put all pre-notifications covering the same exporter and importer on the same declaration.
If you cannot avoid this matching restriction, you will need to apply for a manual release.
Importing caught fish
If you import caught fish, you should pre-notify on IPAFFs the:
- products of animal origin (POAO) CHED-P
- IUU Catch certificate
If you fail to do this, ALVS will generate a ‘no match’.
For more information on importing caught fish, read chapters 3 and 16 of the Tariff.
Importing horticultural products
Horticultural products that fall under General Marketing Standards (GMS) are randomly selected for inspection.
If your products are selected for inspection, you will receive a GMS ‘no match’ message. You must then:
- make a GMS pre-notification on IPAFFs
- amend your customs declaration to include the CHED-PP details in DE 2/3
Further checks
Carriers may need to take their SPS consignments to a Border Control Post (BCP) when they arrive in the UK. Customs Declaration Service messaging services will tell the carrier which BCP to take their consignments to.
When ALVS returns a release decision, Customs and Border Force may carry out additional checks, such as:
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) checks
- checks to resolve any outstanding accounting queries
The Customs declaration will only be cleared after any additional checks are completed.
Customs Declaration Service messaging services will tell you if:
- additional checks are needed
- other queries have been raised
Last updated 18 June 2024 + show all updates
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Information on data matching in the ALVS system has been added to the 'Receipt of X00 ‘no match’ messages' section.
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Information for fish related imports has been updated to say that submitters of Defra pre-notifications should pre-notify the products of animal origin (POAO) CHED-P and the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) Catch certificate on the Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFs).
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Guidance has been removed on Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (PEACH) pre-notification. Further Information has been added on the data matching process and General Marketing Standards (GMS).
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The commodity code for green bananas is now 0803901900.
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First published.