Dangerous Goods & Pharmaceutical
DEFRA, MHRA, and SPS-controlled imports through partners holding the right authorisations. We hold the list, so you do not have to find them yourself.
Dangerous Goods & Pharmaceutical overview
Many goods entering the UK require additional regulatory clearance beyond HMRC: DEFRA for plant and animal products, MHRA for medicines and medical devices, SPS for sanitary and phytosanitary controls. A partner without the relevant authorisations cannot clear these goods.
We hold the list of partners with current DEFRA, MHRA, and SPS clearance authorities, organised by commodity class. We route you to a partner authorised for your exact commodity type before the customs entry begins, which avoids re-routing partway through.
The detail
- Regulators
- DEFRA (animals, plants), MHRA (medicines), SPS (sanitary and phyto)
- Common categories
- Pharma, biologics, food, plants, live animals, certain chemicals
- Pre-clearance
- Permits and certificates checked before HMRC entry submitted
- Required docs
- Commercial invoice, HS classification, regulatory certificates, transport documents
- Typical turnaround
- Variable. Pre-clearance can take days to weeks depending on the regulator
What the matched partner does
Your partner verifies that all regulatory permits and certificates are in order before filing the customs entry. If documentation is incomplete, they advise on what is needed and the timeline. Goods may be held at the border until pre-clearance is satisfied.
Common questions
How do I know if my goods are regulated?
Start with the HS classification and the commodity description. We will route the enquiry to a partner who reviews regulated-goods classifications routinely.
What happens if a permit is missing?
Goods will not be released until the regulator is satisfied. Your partner will identify the missing document and advise on how to obtain it.
Are there extra costs?
Yes, regulatory inspections and certifications carry their own fees on top of customs duty and VAT. Your partner will outline these before you commit.
Ready to begin a dangerous goods enquiry?
Pick the path that fits your shipment. The enquiry pre-fills with the right questions for your import type, so we can match you to the partner who handles it routinely.
Goods for resale or business use. HMRC entry, tariff classification, import VAT.
Begin enquiry →02 / PersonalHousehold belongings shipped to a UK address. TOR relief assessed before partner match.
Begin enquiry →03 / VehicleCars and motorcycles. NOVA filed inside the HMRC 14-day window.
Begin enquiry →Not sure which path fits? Email support@portixglobal.com and we will help you classify before the partner match. No payment ever held by Portix.