In this week’s EU exit corner, we bring you the latest guidance updates and publications relevant to EU exit and news about the extension of the Trader Support Service (“TSS”). We also update you on recent developments in relation to the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland and Chartered Accountants Ireland was in attendance at last week’s first joint UK and EU Domestic Advisory Group meeting.
Trader Support Service (“TSS”) extension
Last week it was announced that the TSS will be extended for a year beyond 31 December 2022 when it was due to end. The Institute has been seeking an extension to the TSS for over a year now via various letters, submissions to consultations and most recently in its Next Financial Year 2022 publication.
The TSS was set up in 2020 to help businesses and traders understand the changes to the way goods move between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The service provides end-to-end support to manage declarations including completing import and safety and security declarations on behalf of traders. The TSS also provides guidance and training to help business understand what the Northern Ireland Protocol means for them and runs a call centre for traders.
Since the Northern Ireland Protocol came into effect on 1 January 2021, over 47,000 traders have registered, there have been over 560,000 goods movements created by TSS involving over 2 million consignments and over 100,000 inbound calls to the TSS contact centres.
HMRC recognises both the significant support the service has provided to businesses and the large number of traders that have benefitted from its assistance over the past 2 years.
The Government is committed to ensuring traders are supported throughout 2023 to meet the requirements of moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including tailoring this support.
More information on the TSS is available on GOV.UK and on the TSS website.
First joint Domestic Advisory Group meeting
Last week, Chartered Accountants Ireland was in attendance at the first joint UK and EU Domestic Advisory Group (“DAG”) meeting. The UK DAG is a consultative body which aims to enable the government to hear from those most affected by the operation of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement.
The DAG member organisations discuss progress made in implementing the Agreement and submit their views to the government. They also discuss implementation issues with the EU DAG in the preparations of the TCA Civil Society Forum (“CSF”). The CSF will bring together UK and EU stakeholders to jointly advise both parties on the implementation of the Agreement.
After the first meeting last week, a Joint Statement was issued.
Update on the Protocol
Last week, talks between the UK and the EU recommenced for the first time since February this year with many reports saying “the mood music” is more positive. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill still continues its progress through the UK parliamentary system with second reading in the House of Lords taking place tomorrow, Tuesday 11 October.
Miscellaneous updated guidance etc.
The latest guidance updates, and publications relevant to EU exit are as follows:-
Ask to continue to use Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) from 1 October 2022;
Official customs seals and trader sealing (notice 205);
Attending an inland border facility;
Using inward processing to process or repair your goods;
Customs debt liability;
Changes to CHIEF commodity codes (Tariff stop press notice 11);
CDS Declaration Completion Instructions for Imports;
Customs declaration completion requirements for Great Britain;
Customs Declaration Completion Requirements for The Northern Ireland Protocol;
Customs Declaration Service communication pack;
Check if a business holds Authorised Economic Operator status;
Making an export declaration using a pre-shipment advice;
Making a full export declaration;
Making a simplified frontier declaration;
Making a full import declaration;
Simplified Customs Declaration Process: notification of non monetary amendment;
Change or cancel a Simplified Frontier Declaration; and
Customs Declaration Service error codes.