The move makes the Ashford Port Health Authority (APHA) the first UK facility to fully automate the initial stage of import checks.
The Ashford Port Health Service function was opened at the Sevington Border Control Post (BCP) in April 2024. Since then, Ashford Borough Council has been responsible for overseeing official border controls on the highest volume of commercial freight entering the UK. This includes checks on products of animal origin (POAO), high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO), organic goods and other regulated imports.
The new AI-powered system uses Intelligent Document Processing to capture and structure import documents, enabling it to carry out initial compliance checks without manual intervention.
During its development, officers at the Sevington border control post were monitored so the new system could be designed to mimic their work. The council has said the idea is not to replace expert oversight but instead strengthen it whilst streamlining operations.
This change also means the council can freeze charges for official controls at their current level, with no inflationary increases for the 2026/27 financial year.
“We are delighted to be at the forefront of the introduction of carefully managed AI to help transform the way we support Border Control services in the UK,” commented Anthony Baldock, corporate director of health and wellbeing at Ashford Borough Council.
“The investment in this pioneering technology is already delivering improved productivity across the service allowing the teams to focus on the front-line delivery of services as well as enhanced compliance and an improvement in the speed and quality of official controls.”
