The cargo-partner teams in the UK and Ireland offer dedicated customs clearance services and are experienced in connecting shipments across the Irish Sea, across the English Channel and between Great Britain and the rest of Europe. The teams have been supporting customers since Brexit was announced, so are always up-to-date on the latest customs checks.
Following Brexit, the UK’s departure from the European Union resulted in several years of upheaval for businesses needing to keep up with new customs regulations for UK-EU trade.
As a consequence of the UK leaving the Single Market and Customs Union, the way businesses in Great Britain trade goods with the EU has changed. To export goods to the EU your business now needs to comply with new customs procedures, including UK export declarations and import requirements on entry to EU Member States.
New checks for all goods coming in and out of the UK have been expected since the Brexit trade deal and with many already operating, there are lots more changes expected over 2023 and 2024, such as; the introduction of the Border Target Operating Model and the Windsor Framework.
Overview
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cargo-partner One Pager - Export & Import Customs Services – UK & Ireland | Download (PDF) |
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On 29 August 2023, the UK Government published a new Border Target Operating Model, setting out a new approach to importing into the UK that is expected to be progressively introduced throughout 2024.
The Border Target Operating Model proposes a new approach to security controls (applying to all imports), and Sanitary and Phytosanitary controls (applying to imports of live animals, germinal products, animal products, plants and plant products) at the border. It sets out how controls will be delivered through simplification, digitization and the UK’s new Single Trade Window.
After considering the feedback raised by stakeholders on implementation challenges, the UK Government has altered the timeline originally proposed, to give businesses and their supply-chains the time they need to prepare.
Key dates for implementation are as follows
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UK Border Target Operating Model | Download (PDF) |
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-border-target-operating-model-august-2023
A new agreement - The Windsor Framework - aimed at addressing post-Brexit issues in Northern Ireland was revealed by the UK Government and the European Commission in February 2023.
It delivers free-flowing trade in goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland by removing any sense of the border in the Irish Sea for goods staying within the UK. These goods will travel as normal through a new green lane without red tape or unnecessary checks, with the only checks remaining designed to prevent smuggling or crime.
The agreement protects Northern Ireland, replacing swathes of EU laws with UK laws and ensuring the people of Northern Ireland can benefit from the same tax policies, food and drink, medicines, and parcels as the rest of the UK.
Under the new plan, goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain will go into a new “green line” and will require less paperwork. Meanwhile, goods destined for Ireland and the EU will go to the “red line” where checks will be carried out.
This Framework means that businesses moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will:
Key dates for implementation are as follows
Download
The Windsor Framework | Download (PDF) |
cargo-partner provides in-depth expertise in air, sea, road and rail transport as well as comprehensive knowledge in export and import customs clearance. We can offer you a complete service package connecting the EU and the UK in this new environment, with a single billing solution.
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-windsor-framework
Document accuracy and efficient information flow are key to ensuring that goods move freely across borders. The following basic documents and data are required for export or import customs clearance:
Please feel free to email us your commercial paperwork and we will be happy to review it and provide feedback in due course.
Goods exported from the United Kingdom have to be accompanied by an EAD (Export Accompanying Document) and afterwards by a TAD (Transit Accompanying Document), which is subject to customs clearance in the EU country of destination.
As an accredited AEO (Authorized Economic Operator), cargo-partner can support you in EAD and TAD creation as well as ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) filing in the United Kingdom.
When exiting the United Kingdom via Kent, truck drivers must have a Kent Access Permit to proceed to the port of exit.
cargo-partner ensures that the contracted vehicle is registered in the relevant online portal and can enter Kent without undue delay.
Upon entry into the EU, the TAD needs to be discharged and the goods from the UK must be customs cleared following existing procedures.
Our Europe-wide cargo-partner network supports you by:
Goods exported from the EU must be accompanied by an EAD (Export Accompanying Document) including the MRN (Movement Reference Number). When moving goods through France, this needs to be lodged in the French customs system as part of the “enveloppe logistique”.
Our European cargo-partner network supports you in generating the EAD and ensuring that the corresponding MRN is submitted to the French customs website.
UK customs entry needs to be lodged before arrival of the vehicle in the UK. After final import entry is arranged, VAT- and duty-relevant procedures need to be completed accordingly.
Our customs experts will be happy to assist you with documentation, duty management, and trade compliance, so please get in touch!
Imports and Exports: general enquiries (LINK @gov.uk)
Guidance for exporting and importing businesses (LINK @gov.uk)
Trade Tariff: look up commodity codes, duty and VAT rates (LINK @gov.uk)
Get an EORI number (LINK @gov.uk)