As of 01 January 2021 both, shippers and transportation companies, will have to face a number of new challenges when doing business with the UK. Even if a last minute deal might mitigate a worst case scenario, we already know for certain that additional customs formalities will apply to trade operations with the UK in less than a month.
In order to keep goods moving, the UK opted for a staged introduction of the new requirements.
As of 01 January additional requirements will apply to Imports from the EU to the UK, among which an Export Declaration including Safety & Security requirements in the EU country of export. On the other hand the Import Customs Declaration in the UK can be postponed for 6 months for Non-Controlled Goods. For controlled goods, however, requirements come into force on January 01.
Full customs formalities for all types of goods, as well as Safety & Security Import Declarations to the UK authorities will then apply only from 01 July 2021 onwards.
For Exports from the UK to the EU the situation is slightly more complex with most of the new customs requirements coming into force already on 01 January 2021. In the first place the UK exporter must submit an Export Declaration including Safety & Security requirements to the UK customs. Additionally, hauliers need to ensure that a Safety & Security Import Declaration is made to the EU customs authorities prior to departure in the UK. Depending on the means of transport the pre-advice time differs, as for example two hours before departure in the case of transit via the short sea ferries or one hour for transports via the Eurotunnel.
Important to consider is also the co called Kent Access Permit – a solution established by the UK to avoid traffic congestion directly at the ports in Dover. Hauliers will need to make sure they are in possess of all customs documents in order to obtain this pass, which will allow them to proceed to the ports of Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal.
The most crucial part, however, regards the import formalities in the EU. In order to board the ferries or the Euro shuttle, either an EU import declaration must be pre-lodged or a transit declaration (T1) opened. Whether for transports to bordering countries the first option might still be practicable, for all transports to other EU countries the T1 is supposed to become the widespread solution. And here we touch one of the most critical issues for future supply chains, as limits in capacity of UK customs brokers and, in particular, their guarantees, could potentially lead to a shortage of T1 availability and cause significant delays.
Beside above described new customs regulation, a broad range of other fields of interest – such as product certification, licensing and labelling requirements to name a few – will be significantly affected by BREXIT. Not to talk about the topics that are still being negotiated between the UK and the EU. For us as a transportation company the upcoming decision on driving permits is definitely the one expected with most anxiety, as a no-deal could lead to the need of CEMT permits and therefore heavily reduce the number of trucks allowed to enter the United Kingdom.
In any case we believe that the only way to successfully face this new business environment is to make sure responsibilities and duties are transparently discussed with all involved parties.
And therefore – communication is key! please get in touch with your Customer Care at GRUBER Logistics to ensure we are ready for BREXIT together.
