MADRID. The Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, along with the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda through Puertos del Estado, have announced today at the headquarters of the public body the new border control procedures for goods, which will be implemented in all PCFs starting January 23.

This initiative is part of a collaborative effort to enhance sanitary and phytosanitary inspection services at borders. The announcement follows a session held in July 2024 at the Port of Algeciras and the highly positive results of pilot projects launched in October 2024 at the ports of Algeciras and Barcelona.

The new system, outlined in Order PJC/756/2024 of July 22, aligns with the control standards of other countries, leveraging the advantages of digitalization to unify resources and modernize processes with standardized protocols. The pilot projects have demonstrated that integrating border inspection services leads to more efficient controls without compromising the quality standards required for critical areas such as food safety.

Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, President of Puertos del Estado, emphasized “the importance of digitalization and system coordination to improve the efficiency of the state-owned port system, benefiting both operators and society as a whole.”

Meanwhile, Myriam Álvarez Páez, Secretary General for Territorial Coordination, highlighted that “this border control model is the result of years of dedicated work by the involved ministries to enhance the services provided to economic operators.” She further noted that the outcomes confirm this approach is the right path to meet the current demands of international trade, improving the competitiveness of ports by eliminating delays that have historically hindered foreign trade.

Valentín Almansa de Lara, Director General of Health for Agricultural Production and Animal Welfare, stated that “the integration of official border control services is a government priority reflected in Order PJC/756/2024.” He also stressed the economic significance of the agri-food sector, which generates exports valued at €75 billion, noting that official control systems must take this economic dimension into account.

Finally, he underscored that this reform is not about conducting more or fewer controls, but about performing better controls, striking a balance between effectiveness, efficiency, and rigor to boost international trade in a more competitive way.