NEWS\\\


Issue 2 2020 - Freight Business Journal


7


>> 6


would be challenging.”


But he was reassured that


HMRC now plans to implement dual-running of both systems until the new system is fully developed, stable and tested. Keen said that from the


forwarder and customs agent’s viewpoint, the key statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove on 10 February was that frontier customs and other regulatory checks would be reintroduced on EU trade aſter the end of the transition period lasting until 31 December, necessitating customs declarations for imports and exports and goods checks at the UK border. The inevitable consequence is that similar requirements would be imposed at the EU frontier, Keen added: “The Chancellor the Duchy


of of Lancaster,


Michael Gove has clearly stated that full import Customs declarations would have to be submitted – there is to be no differentiation between regulatory procedures for imports/exports between the UK and EU and Rest of the World.” BIFA warned that there is infrastructure and


insufficient


information in place at present to support the lodgement of import safety and security checks, which most BIFA members regard as the most significant customs-related issue. BIFA is also seeking


clarification on whether postponed VAT accounting will be introduced on import consignments. Forwarders and hauliers now


have enough clarity to start preparing for Brexit, added MacSwiney. There is though limited time


to implement the systems needed to tackle trade friction following the UK Government’s announcement that import controls on European Union (EU) goods at the border from 31 December. “We now know there will be


no extension of the transitional period, it is the drop-dead-stop scenario, but it means we have clarity,” said MacSwiney, who co- chairs the JCCC Customs Brexit Group (CBG). “We don’t have to like it, but we do now need to get ready to get things done.” He suggests that now is the


time to get the right soſtware and automation in place to deal with the predicted increased volume of entries.


More time for training funds


The British International Freight Association has welcomed financial secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman’s statement that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has extended the deadline for businesses to apply for support funding to 31 January 2021. The scheme, first announced in September 2019 and which allows


companies affected by Brexit to apply for grants to cover the cost of training and IT, had been due to close on 31 January 2020. However, applications have only been made for around £18.5 million out of a possible £26 million – meaning there is at least £7.5 million leſt to claim. BIFA director general Robert


Keen, said: “The news of a further extension to the deadline for this funding is very welcome, and we are encouraging our members who believe they might benefit to apply, if they have not done so already.” Grants are available for all


customs intermediaries and traders completing customs


FTA to becomeLogistics UK


The Freight Transport Association is to change its name to Logistics UK during 2020, says chief executive, David Wells.


He said that the Tunbridge


Wells headquartered organisation was not changing its focus, or the services, support and advice


provided to members but was “a natural progression in our name, which has been under way for several months already. Evolving


CCS-UK to speed ro ro freight post-Brexit


BT’s CCS-UK and the CCS-UK User Group have developed a solution to speed movement of imports to the UK via ro ro ports or the Channel Tunnel. Initially approved by HMRC and Border Force at the end of January 2020 for use in the event of no deal, it will be adapted to comply with the processes required at the end of the current implementation period, once details are known. It is an extension of the CCS-UK


Advance Information System (AIS), which is already used to provide airline temporary storage facilities (ITSFs and ETSFs) with advance information of both intra-UK and international truck movements and road feeder services. AIS helps plan and manage workloads better, thereby speeding up processing and helping eliminate truck queues. CCS-UK User Group chairman, Steve Parker (pictured) said the


AIS RoRo solution allows vehicles arriving at UK ports carrying EU-origin cargo to proceed immediately to a designated CCS- UK temporary storage facility. This provides an alternative to using Common Transit, and means the vehicles do not need to use a port- linked clearance facility - which could cause congestion, delays and incur the cost of acquiring a badge at the port concerned. It will also speed up declaration processing


declarations with the aim of supporting training and the upgrade of IT systems. The grants could be used to


support a business that is extending and taking on new staff, or to help train an existing employee to start completing customs declarations for the company. Training can be delivered by an external provider, or an in-house trainer. www.customsintermediarygrant. co.uk


our name is not something that I or the Board take lightly, but it’s something that we believe is essential if FTA is to continue to grow and achieve more for its members in a fast-changing world.” (David Wells interview, page 10)


at destination, due to its integration with the CCS-UK inventory.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36