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www.bifa.org


Robert Keen’s Column


BIFAlink


BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266 Web site: www.bifa.org E-mail: bifa@bifa.org (A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: 391973. VAT Registration: 216476363)


Director General Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor r.windsor@bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor Pawel Jarza p.jarza@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor David Stroud d.stroud@bifa.org Training Development Manager Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org


Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors Robert Keen, Robert Windsor, Pawel Jarza, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond


Regional Consultants to BIFA Scotland and the Borders Len Hobbs: bifa.scot@gmail.com Northern Ireland Carson McMullan: carsonconluce@aol.com Midlands and the North Paul Young: youngyes@aol.com London West and the South West Mike Jones: m.jones@bifa.org Anglia, London East and the South East Paul Newman: paul@pnauk.com


Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than 1 month, please contact the editor to ensure that the item in question still reflects the current circumstances.


Please be advised that BIFA DOES NOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. BIFA is not a law firm and the authors of this publication are not legally qualified and do not have any legal training. The guidance and assistance set out herein are based on BIFA’s own experience with the issues concerned and should not be in any circumstances regarded or relied upon as legal advice. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering further action based on the information contained in this publication should seek the advice of a qualified professional.


Greater recognition of our sector skills


Many BIFA Members tell me they feel our sector is under-appreciated, something that is often reflected by the manner in which mainstream media describe the work we undertake. However, mid-July saw greater recognition of the importance of the freight


forwarding sector by government during the announcement of the Border Operating Model. The advice to traders to appoint a customs intermediary/freight forwarder and the recognition of the skills of BIFA Members contained within the 206-page document was welcome, following our recent criticism of the use of such terms as “box shifters” and “form fillers” to describe forwarders. When I took my first step on the housing ladder, I was shocked at the amount a


solicitor charged for conveyancing. At that time, I was a Customs entry clerk and my employer charged a fraction of this solicitor’s cost for me to complete a legal document, in many cases with complex calculations. I have often wondered what a solicitor would want to charge for the Customs declaration part of a forwarder’s role. The Border Operating Model does indicate that the government has woken up to the fact that customs


declarations are complicated and not just a matter of ticking a few boxes. Linked to this, I was pleased to see some flippant comments on the subject that I had sent by email appearing on the letters page of the satirical magazine Private Eye recently.


The original article had been about the need for an estimated 50,000 “customs agents” to complete HM


Revenue & Customs formalities when the EU transition phase finishes. My comments were supported by a letter from a retired Customs officer who described the forwarders’ role as complex, especially in their knowledge of the Tariff. We hope the mainstream media take note and stop describing freight forwarders as box tickers. On a separate matter, readers will know that BIFA’s classroom training has been suspended for the remainder


of 2020, but we have made strenuous efforts to continue with the delivery of this important part of BIFA’s remit. Our training offer now includes Freight Forwarding Essentials and Customs Essentials delivered virtually via Zoom video-conferencing. We have analysed the one-day courses to break them into ‘modular’ packages. These ‘bite-sized’ courses are short, sharp sessions on a particular subject and enable the student to cover the syllabus in briefer sessions spread out over a longer time period, rather than having to dedicate a whole day. Our BTEC qualification is nationally recognised and is also available via Zoom with four one-day sessions, again spread out, with a short assessment once the course is completed. Visit the training pages of the BIFA website for further information. Returning to the subject of the Border Operating Model, there is a significant omission as the procedures


outlined do not apply to trade between mainland UK and Northern Ireland. At the end of the Brexit transition on 1 January 2021, while Northern Ireland will stay in the EU single market for goods, the rest of the UK will not, so there will be a range of new processes when shipping goods between the province and the rest of UK. We anticipate a flood of further information from the government on border processes over the coming weeks, so please visit www.bifa.org regularly, sign up for our free e-newsletter, which can be done via the BIFA website, and follow our posts on social media. Who knows? The information that is forthcoming might even clarify whether a full Customs declaration will


actually be required for goods moving between Belfast and Liverpool. Finally I encourage Members to participate in the survey being carried out by Ipsos-Mori on behalf of


HM Revenue & Customs in relation to customs activities and readiness for when full customs declarations are required on all EU trade. See page 6 for further information.


Robert Keen Director General


August 2020 3


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