Freight ferry operators offering UK-EU services are highlighting additional export declaration requirements from today (Friday 1 October) for freight vehicle movements from Great Britain to the EU.
The new rules primarily affect safety empty containers, pallets and vehicles moving to the EU under a transport contract.
Ferry operator Stena Line highlighted that all consignments from Great Britain to EU member states, that are not covered by a combined export and safety and security declaration, require an EXS.
Accounting for empties
The EXS declaration is required for empty vehicles, empty pallets and containers (including any empty reusable packaging such as stillages and roll cages) being moved under a transport contract to the EU, as well as goods travelling under transit documents (TADs, TSADs or TIR carnets).
According to the government, the legal requirement to submit an EXS declaration lies with the “operator of the active means of transport”, such as the vessel, aircraft, train or road vehicle.
Export declarations, including EXS declarations, are made on HMRC's Customs Handling of Import & Export Freight (CHIEF).
In August, the government confirmed that after years of development, CDS (Customs Declaration Service) will replace CHIEF as the UK’s single customs platform on 31 March 2023.