Environment Agency
If your ODS exports get rejected at a European Union (EU) BCP, theyll need to comply with Great Britains clearance processes to re-enter the country. This is known as regaining free circulation status in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
How to regain free circulation status
To regain free circulation status you must:
- have a full customs declaration
- register for an ODS account
- hold sufficient ODS quota
- have a valid ODS import licence at the time of re-entry (use the apply for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) import and export licence service)
You must have everything in place before your ODS reaches UK customs, or as soon as possible. If not, your ODS may be held in storage and will not be able to re-enter Great Britain.
Checks on returned ODS
The National Clearance Hub (NCH) or Border Force, and a relevant regulator, will check and decide how to deal with ODS returned from an EU BCP once it lands at the UK border.
The NCH will:
- check your customs declaration against the ODS service
- instruct Border Force to stop and detain your consignment at the border
The regulators are:
- Environment Agency in England
- Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in Scotland
- Natural Resources Wales in Wales
If the ODS youre trying to import is banned or does not comply with the clearance process, you may need to destroy it.
Last updated 23 November 2022 +show all updates
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Provided additional guidance on when you need to get rejected ODS to comply with clearance processes. Clarified the process of getting returned ODS checked. Removed irrelevant information on the Environment Agency managing the ODS system. Rearranged content for better information flow.
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First published.