Recommendation 21

The government needs to introduce import controls for several reasons, including: to ensure imported goods meet the relevant standards in areas such as food and product safety and disease control; to prevent smuggling and illicit activity; and to comply with international obligations.64 We heard that traders will need to notify government about the goods they are bringing into the UK, for example through systems such as GVMS and IPAFFS, and that departments will enforce controls through a combination of documentary and physical checks.65