It’s been a busy period for customs and trade experts with the recent government announcements relating to the Border Target Operating Model, the customs measures in the Spring Budget and the UK’s trade deals with Australia and New Zealand.
However, customs professionals would do well to also remain alert to updates regarding the upcoming move from the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system to the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for export declarations.
The IOE&IT Daily Update here includes three such updates in its regular round-up of important customs announcements from the government.
CDS: advice for exporters using GVMS
All export declarations will need to be completed using CDS by 30 November 2023, at which point CHIEF will no longer be available for exporters.
HMRC’s Joint Consultative Committee (JCCC), which consults with industry stakeholders on important developments relating to UK border processes, has issued new advice to users of the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) who have moved goods through a non-inventory linked port. It includes guidance on the steps they will need to take to prepare for the CDS migration and when these need to be taken.
From May 2023, the government will contact the declarants that have submitted the highest number of export declarations where only GVMS is used, as they are “confident they can start submitting export declarations through CDS.”
From September 2023, all export routes will be supported by CDS and all declarants will be able to submit their declarations using it.
The JCCC advises that if you or your software developer are not contacted before September 2023, you should not try to start moving your export declarations to CDS as CDS will not yet be working on all export routes. The government will be contacting all declarants in July 2023 with advice about how to prepare to start using the service from September 2023.
CDS: Advice for CSE users
According to gov.uk, Customs Supervised Exports (CSE) is an approval for “customs supervision at a trader’s inland premises”.
According to a JCCC note to industry:
“CDS users will need to include an individual reference for each CDS-approved premise on their declarations. One difference between the two systems is that on CDS you will need to include an individual reference for each CSE approved premises on your declaration. CDS also currently requires a temporary process to be followed so a declaration involving a CSE approval can be successfully submitted.”
Below are details of the temporary process CSE-approved users of CDS will need to complete if using CDS before September. If you do not wish to use this process, you can continue submitting declarations through CHIEF until September 2023, at which point, HMRC will contact you with details of a permanent process.
Instructions for completing CDS using temporary process for CSE approvals
- Your declaration must be lodged as arrived in data element 1/2
- In data element 1/11 use additional procedure code 1CS
- In data element 2/2 use AI code RRS01
- In data element 2/3:
- Document code: C676
- Authorisation number:
- CSE authorisation number for the premises where the goods are being shipped from
- Where you operate multi-site premises, enter the unique CSE authorisation number for each location
- Ensure that the correct authorisation number is quoted
- For example a CDS migrated number would resemble GBCSE123456789000, whereas a date and time stamp example would look like GBCSE12345678900020211121121110
- Data element 3/39
- Authorisation Identifier: EORI number
- When exiting via a GVMS port, declare the relevant GVMS Location Code in 5/23 instead of your inland CSE location code
- (Failure to do so, will result in GVMS being unable to accept the DUCR and send the necessary message to CDS to close the export)
- Goods cannot be removed from your CSE premises until confirmation of permission to progress is granted
- If the export requires a physical inspection, please contact the National Clearance Hub to arrange an inspection at your CSE approved premise
Traders should continue to follow the CDS declaration completion instructions here for the rest of their export declarations and are advised to speak to their software providers to find out whether they can access the Trader Dress Rehearsal service to practice submitting export declarations ahead of the 30 November deadline.
You can continue to find the latest information about CDS by visiting the Customs Declaration Service collection page on GOV.UK.
CDS: Preparing for export declarations
The government has advised that businesses involved in submitting export declarations can take the following steps to prepare for the 30 November deadline:
- Apply for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number beginning with ‘GB’
- Subscribe to the CDS so you will be able to submit export declarations from your software to the CDS
- Read the latest CDS guidance on gov.uk - including the ‘CDS toolkit’ and ‘Key differences between CHIEF and the CDS’ guidance and our introductory UK exports guide – to familiarise yourself with CDS
Trade deals to enter force at end of month
The UK’s free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand will enter into force on 31 May, as reported by the IOE&IT Daily Update.
The government has published new guidance to support traders make the most of the agreements, which you can find below:
TOM risk categorisations published
The government also last week released the ‘risk categorisations’ for EU goods that will be subject to new sanitary and phytosanitary controls from the end of October 2023.
This follows the publication in April of the draft new Border Target Operating Model.
The categories – ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ – will determine the level of checks and documentation that will be required for SPS goods entering Britain from the EU and EFTA.
- The categories for animals and animal origin products can be found here
- The categories for plants and plant-based products can be found here
The IOE&IT will be running a free webinar updating traders about these risk categorisations and other developments since the draft model was published in April on 23 May.
New train strikes
Train drivers’ union Aslef is conducting a one-day strike on Friday (12 May), which will be followed by a RMT union walk-out on Saturday.
These are the first nationwide rail strikes since February and could be followed by further industrial action on 31 May and 3 June, according to the FT.
IOE&IT MemberCon23
The move to CDS and how businesses can make the most of the UK’s free trade agreements are among the topics being discussed at IOE&IT MemberCon23 in Liverpool on 5 July.
As well as being an opportunity to meet and network with fellow trade professionals, this year’s MemberCon event will also include Q&A clinics in which you can put your customs and trade questions to the IOE&IT’s industry-leading team of experts.
For more information, visit www.export.org.uk/membercon_23.