Full Brexit customs checks: are you prepared?
From Saturday 1 January 2022, full customs controls and checks began for goods entering GB from the EU. Are you an importing business within the UK, or a supplier providing goods to customers in the UK? Then you need to consider how well you and your trading partners throughout your supply chain are prepared for the new customs requirements.
Some of our clients have already told us they are experiencing additional delays in cases where their partners were unaware of the changes. Others say they are having to consider changes to their sales and commercial agreements with some customers.
The key changes
Import declarations are now required for all goods, and declarations can no longer be deferred as they could during the transitional period.
Customs checks will be carried out on all goods entering the UK, with additional checks for some goods types.
“The UK government has introduced new schemes…”
New schemes: the UK government has introduced new schemes to support companies with these changes and help it deal with post-Brexit trade. These include the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), a border control IT system for coordinating the movement of vehicles. It is estimated the system will need to process 400 million customs declarations a year.
Even if these changes are not new to you and your business, it is critical you consider the robustness and sustainability of your supply chain, and ensure all parties in it are aware of their role.
“Understand the potential impact…”
Some important things to bear in mind
- Understand the potential impact on any commercial agreements, such as the Incoterms of your import or export. Responsibilities may now have changed in some important respects.
- Consider any differences or additions to checks on the types of goods you trade. For example, since 2022 sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks have been introduced on GB-EU imports.
- Talk as early as possible to your supply chain participants — hauliers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, clients, suppliers… — to ensure everyone is prepared for the changes, so unnecessary delays are avoided.
More information
The specific changes can be found via your own government websites and Export.org.
Contact
If you do have any trade related queries, or want to know how ABN AMRO could support you, then our Trade Specialists are here to help.
- (UK) Liam Jolliff, ABN AMRO Director Trade Business Development International Desk, liam.jolliff@uk.abnamro.com.
- (Other countries) Steven van der Meulen, ABN AMRO Senior Consultant Trade & Guarantees, steven.van.der.meulen@nl.abnamro.com.