Sealane - BREXIT Update June 2020
18 June 2020
Re: Important Brexit News
As you may be aware The UK Government has “formally confirmed” to the EU that the UK will not extend the Brexit transition period. This means that some form of Customs Clearance formalities will be introduced for all UK/EU and EU/UK movements as from 1st January 2021.
We therefore would like to take this opportunity to briefly explain how we believe Customs clearance formalities will work (unless the ongoing negotiations agree a different system) and highlight any action you and your European partners/Customers will need to take to prepare as best as possible in the short time available.
UK Exports to the EU
- All goods leaving the UK will need to do so under the cover of a Transit T-form (NCTS) or Transit Accompanying Document or MRN.
- This document will provide a financial guarantee for the goods in Transit.
- A T-form will be raised at the point or port of departure, this is something Sealane Freight will be able to arrange on your behalf for goods carried on our service.
- The T-form will then have to be cleared/discharged in the country of destination.
- Delivery cannot take place until the Goods have been Customs cleared and the T Form has been discharged.
- There are a number of ways of doing this but we believe the best method is for the European consignee to do so utilising Authorised Consignee status. Authorised consignee status will allow Sealane Freight to transport the consignment directly to the Consignee’s approved premises for immediate discharge of the T-form and Customs clearance.
We encourage you today to speak with European customers and ascertain:
- whether they already hold Authorised Consignee status and if not please encourage them complete this process urgently.
- you will need to inform us where the Customs clearance of the cargo will be undertaken and by whom.
- If your partner/ customer does not have representation then Sealane Freight would be happy to appoint our own agent to fulfil the European Customs clearance activities.
UK Imports from the EU
- The UK Government is introducing a simplified approach to Import clearance from the 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021 and we believe this is the most practicable short term solution to dealing with Imports from the EU. We would encourage UK based Importers to register for CFSP (Customs Frontier Simplified Procedures). This will allow importers to import goods into the UK recording their transactions in their own records (Entry in Declarants Records) and subsequently submitting a supplementary Customs declarations to Customs for all their import activity before the 30th June 2021.
- Importers can make their own import Customs declarations or Importers may engage the services of an agent with the appropriate links to the Customs computer CHIEF.
- Or Sealane Freight would be extremely happy to arrange the Customs clearance supplementary declarations for any importers who cannot make the Customs declarations themselves.
If importers do not engage with the new simplified procedures, every individual consignment will need to be Customs cleared on entry into the UK. Not only will this mean the potential for delays at the frontier but it will also mean any Customs taxes will have to be paid at the point of entry into the UK.
In the coming weeks there will be more information from the UK Government and we will of course endeavour to keep you fully informed at all times.
In the meantime, we would encourage you from today to be proactive in communicating with your European partners and ourselves. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Alan Coffey by email [email protected] or by telephone on 01582 463805
Yours sincerely,
A J Coffey
Director