TARGET OPERATING MODEL (TOM) RELEASED
The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, has today (5 April 2023) published its plan to strengthen our borders against biosecurity threats and illegal imports.
The draft Border Target Operating Model (TOM) sets out a plan to realise the ambition of the 2025 Border Strategy to create the most effective border in the world.
The draft has been devised following engagement with the Border Industry and businesses across the UK. A six-week engagement period will now take place, with the final Target Operating Model to be published later this year.
The model is backed by over a £1billion investment in border transformation across this spending review period, to improve how government systems and technology support goods and people to move across the border.
The proposals in the Target Operating Model apply to imports from all countries into Great Britain, and will see the implementation of new security and biosecurity controls on imports from the EU. These controls will ensure our environment is protected, deliver food that is safe to eat whilst maintaining security of supply for consumers, and disrupt criminal activity before it can harm our communities.
Whilst there is significant emphasis within the document on SPS Goods , in section 1.2 of the document there is information regarding the new Safety and Security model for inbound cargo. TOM is anticipated to be implemented in three stages between October 2023 and October 2024.
BIFA will review the documents and liaise with Members for their views before feedback on the draft proposals. Government intends to consult with trade over the next 6 weeks before redrafting and re-issuing the TOM. Given that the first milestone is 31st October , that does not give much time to translate this from paper to a workable process.
It is important to emphasise that the implementation of TOM is reliant on the implementation of a workable Single Trade Window, so the two programmes are dependent on one another.