Common User Charge (CUC)
The Common User Charge (CUC) is designed to recover the full costs of operating the government-run Border Control Post facilities serving the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.
Charges incurred at import for certain risk products to support vital biosecurity checks at the Border Control Post at Sevington.
Other ports also implement Port Health Inspection fees, and these can vary, but the CUC is set by DEFRA and specific to Dover and Eurotunnel.
What are the charges?
Port Health (PH) charges and the Common User Charge (CUC) are fees applied to the import of regulated goods into the UK, including food, plants, animal products, and other items subject to health and biosecurity controls.
Port Health Charges cover the cost of inspections, testing, and certification conducted by Port Health Authorities to ensure imported goods comply with public health, safety, and environmental standards. This includes:
- Verifying Export Health Certificates
- Inspecting consignments
- Taking samples for laboratory testing
- Confirming compliance with animal and plant health regulations
Charges are typically applied per consignment or based on the weight or volume of goods, helping to safeguard consumers, agriculture, and the environment.
CUC
The CUC, set by DEFRA, is a standardised administrative fee applied to imports via Dover or Eurotunnel to cover operational costs of Sevington IBF, which serves multiple importers and exporters. Unlike Port Health charges, which vary across the UK, the CUC only applies to Channel imports.
For more information, please see here.
Watch Lex Townsley, our Head of Finance, break down CUC and Port Health Charges.