You’ll need to follow normal import declarations rules for controlled goods imported into Great Britain from Ireland.
You can record goods in your own records without getting authorisation in advance if both of the following apply:
- you’re importing non-controlled goods into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from Ireland or Northern Ireland
- you need a declaration
But if the goods are on this list, you must follow normal rules for making import declarations when importing goods into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from Ireland — including goods imported from Ireland through Northern Ireland.
| Type of goods | Notes |
|---|---|
| Excise goods | All goods subject to excise duty including:
• alcohol products |
| 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.
You can find a list of controlled drugs and their classification under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 on the Home Office website. This list is not exhaustive. |
| 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.
Find out more about precursor chemical licensing. |
| Toxic chemicals | Chemicals under Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention’s (CWC) Schedules of Chemicals.
For more information you should contact Department for Business and Trade (DBT). |
| Endangered species (CITES-listed endangered animals and plants or their products) | Any animal or plant species, and their parts or derivatives, that are on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) list (see Species+ website).
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 | Any products for which a catch certificate (and processing statements and storage documents if applicable) will need to be submitted in advance of importing fish into the UK.
The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has more information for fisheries businesses on its website. |
| Marketing standards — fertilisers | Solid ammonium nitrate fertilisers when the following applies:
• a nitrogen content of more than 28% of its weight Defra has more information on manufacturing and marketing fertilisers on its website. |
| Anti-personnel mines | Imports of anti-personnel mines and any component of an anti-personnel mine are banned, except for the exclusive purpose of development or training in the techniques of mine detection, mine clearance or mine destruction.
Import licences are issued by the Import Licensing Branch of the Department for Business and Trade. For advice contact enquiries.ilb@trade.gov.uk. |
| Explosives | All explosives and explosive precursors 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.
More information is available on the HSE website. For advice contact: explosives.policy@hse.gsi.gov.uk. |
| Firearms | Firearms, including some military goods such as cannons, torpedoes and missiles, that require an import licence issued by the Import Licensing Branch of the Department for Business and Trade, with the exception of some air rifles and pistols.
For advice contact enquiries.ilb@trade.gov.uk. |
| Pyrotechnic articles, including fireworks | All imports of pyrotechnic articles for which an authorisation is required for the acquisition, keeping, transfer, storage and manufacture of pyrotechnic articles, including fireworks.
More information is available on the HSE website. |
| Military goods | Items specifically designed or modified for military use including percussion caps, detonators, signalling flares, armoured vehicles, telescopic sights or other optical devices, collectors pieces or antiques.
See chapter 36 of the UK Trade Tariff for more information. |
| Nuclear materials | Under licence only, includes medical radioisotopes.
Uranium ore concentrates, plutonium, uranium 233, uranium enriched in isotopes 233 or 235, natural uranium and mixtures, compounds and alloys containing any of the foregoing, including spent or irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements (cartridges) can only be imported into the UK from outside the EU under a licence issued by the Office for Nuclear Regulation. See chapters 28 and 84 of the UK Trade Tariff for more information. |
| Offensive weapons | Offensive weapons which are designed to kill or inflict serious injury and do not have a legitimate use are banned or restricted from being imported into the UK.
Some organisations may import offensive weapons under licence. Find out more information about importing offensive weapons. |
| Realistic imitation firearms | Realistic imitation firearms imported for a valid reason, that appear so realistic that a person cannot easily tell that they are not real, may be imported under licence issued for the exclusive purpose of historic events, film props etc.
Find out more information in the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Sections 36 and 27). |
| Torture equipment | Some organisations may import torture equipment under licence issued when goods are to be used for the exclusive purpose of public display in a museum in view of their historic significance.
Import licences are issued by the Import Licensing Branch of the Department for Business and Trade. 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. For more information, see guidance from the Environment Agency on F gas and ODS rules. |
| Rough diamonds | Diamonds
Trade in rough diamonds is regulated by the Kimberley Process (KP) Certification Scheme. For updates and more information read the guidance on trading in rough diamonds. For advice contact the Government Diamond Office at kpuk@fcdo.gov.uk. |
| Anti-dumping duty and countervailing duties | Products subject to anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty measures. This covers a range of goods, including but not limited to products from the following sectors:
• fertilisers |
| Steel safeguards | Steel and steel products subject to tariff safeguards relating to their importation.
See chapters 72 and 73 of the UK Trade Tariff for more information. |
| Sanction goods and weapons of mass destruction related goods | Find a list of UK sanctions currently in place.
Goods subject to UK sanctions or specific goods subject to import licencing controls under UK sanctions (for example Iran and North Korea). This covers a range of goods, including some products from chapters 27, 28, 44, 69, 71 and 76 of the UK Trade Tariff. |
