NEWS\\\
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) says it will carry out an ‘internal review’ of penalties on companies involved in excise goods. It follows representations from the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) and others concerned that logistics service businesses such as third party warehouse keepers and hauliers could risk duty assessments and huge penalties for making simple procedural errors with ‘duty- suspended’ excise goods stored or distributed on behalf of their clients.
Alan Powell, UKWA’s advisor on excise matters, explains: “We
identified significant dangers in the law introduced in 2010 that can result in honest businesses being assessed for duty as a result of a genuine minor error in the duty-suspended supply chain. By literally ticking the ‘wrong box’ while goods are under duty suspense – whether in production, holding or movement – a company effectively creates a ‘duty point’ and if duty is not paid at that time, a liability of up to 100% will be incurred for ‘holding’ duty-unpaid goods.” Powell added: “As UK law
currently stands, legitimate businesses are facing massive
Fire!
Freight Service Awards 2013
No, there hasn’t been a major disaster at a distribution centre - Potter Logistics lent their Queen Adelaide Way site in Ely to Cambridgeshire fire-fighters for an exercise on 2 December.
Cash for Felixstowe road, but more work
needed on port demand
Improvements to the A14 main road link to the port of Felixstowe were included in the Government’s £375 billion National Infrastructure Plan, unveiled on 4 December. The Government
said the plan,
partly funded by investment from the insurance industry, was aimed at reversing “several decades” of underinvestment in roads, railways and other infrastructure. Construction will start in 2016, says the Government, which also confirmed that the new road would be toll-free. The news was welcomed
by the Freight Transport Association, whose head of road network management policy Malcolm Bingham said: “At last, common sense has prevailed regarding
the A14 tolls. FTA
believes that this can only be good news for businesses in the area by improving vital infrastructure which supports
the local economy and provides a vital strategic national link.” On the same day, the
Government also promised to reform the judicial review system to tackle delays to infrastructure delivery and “reduce the impact of meritless claims”. There would be a specialist planning court with set deadlines to accelerate the handling of cases. In addition, it announced
increased subsidies for offshore wind power but a cut for onshore wind and solar energy schemes; the former could provide a boost for some ports. On ports, the plan said that
capacity should be located where it is most required. Forecasts of demand for port capacity in the period up to 2030 were last updated in 2007, before the economic downturn. The Government intends
to
commission fresh forecasts shortly.
92867_BIFA_Awards2013_Winners_Ad_FreightBusinessJournal.indd 2 10/12/2013 11:00
The Winners BIFA
The following organisations and individuals have
been recognised by the British International Freight Association as the ‘best in industry’ for each category in the Freight Service Awards 2013 competition.
The awards are a true measure of performance quality within the logistics and supply chain industry.
risks of unfair taxation for each and every minor genuine error during transactions, together with associated penalties. Meanwhile, those who actively seek to cheat the revenue by ‘committing irregularities’ in the supply chain continue to flourish almost unhindered.” He said that, in fairness to HMRC, there has been concern within
sections of the Department over disproportionate sanctions that might have unintended consequences. Powell has already been
invited by HMRC policy officials to discuss industry concerns and problems with the law, most of which have been identified as themes within the draſt terms of reference of the review.
Issue 1 2014 - FBJ
11 Customs has a rethink on excise goods fines
Alan Powell adds: “What we would like to see is a formal mechanism for HMRC to be able to remit duty in cases of irregularities caused by genuine error where the relevant products have been secured in a tax warehouse or there is proof of export. Without such assurance, we believe UK law breaches the principle of proportionality
and fundamental rights and, consequently, excise businesses face being taxed and penalised out of existence for genuine errors that involve no material revenue risk. Then who would legitimately collect and pay the £40-odd billion excise duties to the Exchequer per year?” The findings of HMRC’s review will be published on 31 March.
General Categories
Environment Award Sponsored by: Red Recruit
Finalists: - Freight Systems Express (Wales) - Hellmann Worldwide Logistics - MacAndrews & Company
Project Forwarding Award Sponsored by: Peter Lole & Co
Finalists: - Charles Kendall Freight - Moto Freight - UFS
Special Services Award Sponsored by: Forward Computers
Finalists: - ASAP Cargo (UK) - Charles Kendall Freight - Interspan Freight Solutions
Staff Development Award Sponsored by: Albacore Systems Finalists: - 512
- Customs Clearance - GKN Freight Services
Supply Chain Management Award
Sponsored by: BoxTop Technologies
Finalists: - Damco UK - OHL International - WS Logistics (Procurus)
Modal Categories
Air Freight Award Sponsored by: IAG Cargo
Finalists: - Geodis Wilson UK - IJS Global (UK) - RIF Worldwide
European Logistics Award Sponsored by: TT Club
Finalists: - IJS Global (UK) - MacAndrews & Company - WS Logistics (Procurus)
Ocean Freight Award Sponsored by: CargoWise
Finalists: - Brunel Shipping (London) - Estuary Logistics - Ideal International
Individual Category
Young Freight Forwarder Award Sponsored by: Virgin Atlantic Cargo
Finalists: - Samantha Bates, OHL International
- Sam Camphion, Kuehne + Nagel
- Michael Keeble, Professional Freight Solutions
Winner:
Phoebe Rockwood, Damco UK,
www.damco.com
Winner:
OHL International
www.uk.ohl.com
Winner: DSV Road
www.dsv.com
Winner:
Cardinal Maritime
www.cardinalmaritime.com
Winner: Yusen Logistics (UK)
in partnership with AstraZeneca
www.eur.yusen-logistics.com
Winner: Damco UK
www.damco.com
Winner:
Spatial Global
www.spatialglobal.com
Winner:
James Cargo Services
www.jamescargo.com
Winner: Dachser
www.dachser.co.uk
British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 7EP United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)20 8844 2266 F: +44 (0)20 8890 5546
E:
eventsoffice@bifa.org W:
www.bifa.org/awards
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