Controlled goods
Information about controlled goods.
Simplified Declaration Process (SDP) can be used to release controlled goods at a frontier location or from a Temporary Storage facility. For controlled goods additional data elements are required on the Simplified Frontier Declaration (SFD).
EIDR imports at frontier and EIDR removals from Temporary storage must not be used for controlled goods. Other types of EIDR use are permitted with controlled goods (for example, EIDR removals from Customs Warehouses (CWs)).
Applicants for Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP) must request permission to import controlled goods providing the commodity codes and Procedure code (PC) or Additional Procedure code (APC) details with the application. SCDP authorisation holders wishing to add controlled goods to their existing authorisation must provide the commodity codes and PC and APC details to their supervising office and apply for SDP unless already held.
There are specific APCs which must be used for controlled goods.
The controlled goods APCs which must be declared on the SFD, entry in records and Supplementary Declarations (SDs) are:
- 1CD and 1CG
- 2CD and 2CG
Read Appendix 2: DE 1/11: Additional Procedure Codes of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for more information on these APCs.
Controlled goods are subject to special health, licensing, or environmental controls requiring endorsement of a licence, certificate, or document or control due to their nature. If you wish to import controlled goods, you must apply for authorisation or an amendment to your existing authorisation (your application or authorisation amendment must show the relevant commodity codes and PC and APC).
The below table provides an illustration of the type of goods that are normally classified as controlled. This table is not exhaustive, and traders should consult the UK Integrated Online Tariff. Any goods shown as restricted in the UK Integrated Online Tariff must be entered as controlled goods for SCDP purposes and be accompanied by full supporting documentation such as Home Office licenses, veterinary certificates and phytosanitary certificates.
| Type of goods | More details of goods |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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 precursors | Regulation of drug precursors covers a number of chemical substances which are divided into 4 groups: Group 1 covers the most sensitive substances (the ‘main’ drug precursors), Group 2 covers less sensitive substances and some pre-precursors, Group 3 covers bulk chemicals that can have different types of uses in the manufacturing process (for example, as feedstock, solvents or impurities removers), and Group 4 covers medicinal products of some group 1 substances. With the exception of Group 4 drug precursor chemicals, the legislation generally excludes medicinal products for human use, but covers all natural products and preparations (or mixtures) containing at least one scheduled substance, provided that they can be extracted by ‘readily applicable or economically viable means’. |
| Endangered species | 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 read Species+ websiteSpecies+ 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. ‘Species’ and ‘specimen’ are defined in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97. |
| Excise goods | Alcohol, products, tobacco products, hydrocarbon oils, biofuels, fuel substitutes, road fuel gases, goods subject to Climate Change Levy and tobacco product manufacturing machines |
| Explosives | Explosive materials and articles as listed in Annex I of Directive 2014/28/EU. Explosives precursors as set out in Annex I and Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2019/1148. |
| Fertilisers - marketing standards | Solid ammonium nitrate fertilisers when the following applies: a nitrogen content of more than 28% of its weight, and in a consignment weighing 500kg or more. Read Manufacturing and marketing fertilisers for more information. |
| 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. |
| 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. Read Fisheries businesses: working after Brexit transition for more information on fisheries businesses. |
| 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. Read 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. Read 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. Read Import controls on offensive weapons for more information on importing offensive weapons. |
| 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, read guidance from the Environment Agency on F gas and ODS rules. |
| Pyrotechnic articles, including fireworks | Pyrotechnic articles requiring authorisation for the acquisition, keeping, storage and manufacture of pyrotechnic articles, including fireworks. Go to the HSE website for more information. |
| 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, or film props. Find out more information in the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (Sections 36 and 27). |
| Rough diamonds | Rough diamonds regulated under the Kimberley Process (KP) Certification Scheme. More details on special rules: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-diamonds-special-rules. For advice contact the Government Diamond Office at kpuk@fcdo.gov.uk. |
| 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. |
| SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) goods | Check import risk categories and related rules for animals and animal products imported from non-EU countries to Great Britain, from 30 April 2024. |
| 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. |
| Torture equipment | Equipment used for the purpose of capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 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. |
For the purposes of SCDP the following are also considered controlled goods:
- unmanufactured tobacco, not stemmed or stripped
- unmanufactured tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed or stripped
- tobacco refuse
Sanctions, embargoes and restrictions
Goods that are subject to sanctions cannot be declared using EIDR or SDP. Read Trade sanctions, arms embargoes, and other trade restrictions for more information.
Further information
Information on controlled goods can be found at UK Trade Tariff: import prohibitions and restrictions.