This week’s EU exit corner, 30 August 2021

In this week’s EU exit corner, HMRC has now confirmed that CHIEF can be used for airfreight declarations for a short time beyond 31 August 2021 and updated guidance has been published in several areas in addition to the latest schedule of webinars and support options available. See also the most recent EU exit bulletin which features every Friday in Chartered Accountants News. The latest webinar by the Trader Support Service is next Tuesday 7 September and is available for booking now.

The Trader Support Service Autumn update – webinar 7 September

The UK government launched the Trader Support Service (“TSS”) to help businesses involved in the movement of goods between GB and NI.  This webinar will cover the following:

• Introduction to the TSS;
• Recap of processes required when importing goods from GB to NI;
• SPS Controlled Goods;
• Supplementary Declarations including:-
• Tariff Options;
• UK Trader Scheme;
• SD Assistant;
• Apportionment;
• How to claim a waiver; and
• The Rules of Origin
• Customs Special Procedures;
• Inward Processing;
• Returned Goods Relief;
• Temporary Admission;
• Entry/Exit Customs/Excise Warehouse; and
• Questions and Answers.

A recording will be made available afterwards to all those who have booked this event. Register for this free event which takes place from 12:30-2pm next Tuesday 7 September.

Airfreight movements – delay on movement to CDS from CHIEF

Since our update in Friday’s Chartered Accountants News, HMRC has contacted us to advise that HMRC will be writing to all declarants importing goods from the rest of the world (“ROW”) to NI using the CHIEF service to let them know they can continue to use CHIEF for a short time longer.

From tomorrow Tuesday 31 August 2021, all import declarations for airfreight movements had been due to move to the Customs Declaration Service (“CDS”) from CHIEF. It is not clear how much longer CHIEF will be able to be used for airfreight movements and thus we are seeking clarification from HMRC on this point.

The decision to delay moving air freight declarations from CHIEF to CDS is based on feedback from industry and this Institute at recent HMRC meetings. HMRC state that they recognise the challenges, “including that the TSS guidance for air freight movements will not be live until Tuesday”, leaving little time to prepare. A copy of the letter that HMRC is sending is available.

Miscellaneous updated guidance

The following documents/guidance relevant to EU exit have been updated/published recently:-

• Customs Declaration Completion Requirements for The Northern Ireland Protocol;
• Moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK;
• Rules of origin for goods moving between the UK and EU;
• International road haulage: HGV driver documents;
• International bus or coach services and tours: driver documents;
• Webinars for exporters of products of animal origin, live animals, plants and plant products to the EU;
• Webinars for importers of food and drink products from the EU to Great Britain;
• Organisations that trade with the EU – webinars calendar;
• Import or move live animals, germinal products, animal by-products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin;
• Using the UKCA marking;
• Placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain;
• Construction Products Regulation in Northern Ireland;
• Construction Products Regulation in Great Britain;
• UK points-based immigration system: further details;
• Moving qualifying goods from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK;
• Register road haulage journeys within Europe from 2 February 2022;
• Transport goods in and out of the UK using vans or car and trailers from 21 May 2022;
• New rules for international road haulage in 2022;
• Check which international road haulage permits you need;
• Protected geographical food and drink names: applications, objections and decisions and
• Guide for EEA business travellers.

Webinars

A calendar of upcoming webinars for organisations that trade with the EU is available. BEIS has also launched a series of on demand videos, to help businesses familiarise themselves with the new rules. Topics include importing and exporting, trade, Rules of Origin, tariffs, data, and audit and accounting. The Cabinet Office has published recordings and videos that outline in more technical detail the new rules for moving goods to and from the EU.

Upcoming HMRC Brexit webinars: 

• Various dates – Completing customs declarations: an overview: register here;
• Various dates – Trader responsibilities when using an intermediary: register here;
• Various dates – Importing: preparing to make your supplementary declaration: register here; and
• Various dates – Exporting: what you need to do to keep your goods moving: register here.

You can also:

• watch HMRC videos on HMRC's YouTube channel to familiarise yourself with the new customs processes and what you need to do before trading goods with the EU;
• use the trader checklist to make sure you’re familiar with the new rules;
• use HMRC’s updated guides to understand the new customs and VAT requirements when a business is moving goods between the UK and EU countries;;
• sign up to the Trader Support Service if your business is moving goods between GB and Northern Ireland and use their suite of educational products, including online training modules and webinars, for support with the Protocol;
• ask and get answers to specific questions about HMRC processes for importing or exporting by visiting HMRC’s forums;
• watch webinars and videos from other government departments on the changes;
• sign up to HMRC’s email updates on news and information about importing and exporting with the EU; and
• Call HMRC’s Customs & International Trade helpline on 0300‌‌ ‌322‌‌ ‌9434, for more help with importing, exporting or customs reliefs. The helpline is open‌‌ ‌from 8am‌‌ ‌to‌‌ ‌10pm‌‌ ‌Monday‌‌ ‌to‌‌ ‌Friday and‌‌ ‌from 8am‌‌ ‌to‌‌ ‌4pm at‌‌ ‌week‌‌ends. You can also send your questions using HMRC’s online form or webchat.