The Port of Dunkirk, together with the French veterinary and phytosanitary control service SIVEP (Service d'Inspection Vétérinaire et Phytosanitaire), has implemented new instructions for border control. The goal of the changes is to increase the safety of inspections and, at the same time, speed up cargo clearance for international freight carriers operating on the route to France.
Infrastructure and throughput capacity
The Border Inspection Post (BIP/SIVEP) in the western part of the Port of Dunkirk has become the third facility of its kind in France – after posts in Roissy and Le Havre. The post is directly subordinate to the Central SIVEP of the French Ministry of Agriculture and brings together specialists in veterinary and phytosanitary control. Its capacity is up to 5,000 consignments per year, which significantly increases the volume of processing of products of animal and plant origin intended for consumption or feed.
Clearance procedure and document requirements
New protocols require strict adherence to documentary standards for seamless clearance. Operators responsible for cargo are obliged to notify the competent health authorities in advance – no later than one working day before the expected arrival of the goods. During import, the operator must confirm the preliminary customs declaration, and after passing the SIVEP inspection, update the cargo status.
Compliance control and physical inspections
To ensure biosecurity, border control includes both documentary and physical inspection. Drivers are obliged to have original veterinary (sanitary) certificates, as well as accompanying commercial documents – invoices or consignment notes. At the SIVEP post, inspectors systematically conduct visual inspections, check temperature, verify the identification of consignments against certificate data and, if necessary, take samples depending on the assessed risk level of the specific cargo.
What this means for drivers
Carriers heading through Dunkirk should allocate time for the SIVEP procedure and prepare a full package of documents in advance – the absence of an original certificate on board is a reason for cargo delay. When planning your route and travel budget, also pay attention to fuel prices in France. Source: Port of Dunkirk.