The introduction of post-Brexit regulations for importing and exporting to and from the EU means that for traders and their logistics partners, managing change has become the norm.
Regular evidence emerges of how those changes are effecting trade flows: this week National Highways revealed figures that the Dover Traffic Access Protocol (TAP) controlling congestion at the Port of Dover has been used more times this year than in the first six months of 2021.
Here’s a Daily Update recap on the key changes GB-EU traders and their supply chains are working through:
Imports from EU
Import declarations
British importers must now ensure import declarations are completed for EU goods at the point they enter Great Britain.
This is a change from 2021, when importers could delay submitting declarations for up to 175 days after the goods entered GB.
SPS rules
Firms importing goods subject to sanitary or phytosanitary (SPS) controls must submit pre-notifications about their goods movements to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) or DEFRA, using IPAFFS (the import of products, animals, food and feed system).
Further rules for SPS goods – including the completion of export health or phytosanitary certificates – are being introduced in phases from 1 July this year.
GVMS (imports and exports)
The government’s new cross border IT system Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) became operational for goods moving between the EU and GB on 1 January 2022.
Using GVMS is mandatory for hauliers carrying imported goods to GB ports that are adopting a ‘pre-lodgement’ model rather than a 'temporary storage' approach.
Exports to the EU
Businesses moving goods from Britain to the EU have been subject to post-Brexit customs rules since 1 January 2021 – the first day after the end of the transition period following Brexit.
All firms exporting to the EU are required to complete customs declarations, while additional licensing and certification requirements may apply if exporting certain controlled goods - for example agrifoods, plants, military and dual-use items.
GVMS (exports)
GVMS can also now be used for pre-submitting export declarations for goods entering the EU. However, there is variance as to whether goods headed for the EU can be submitted as 'arrived' or 'pre-lodged'.
You can read more about which ports are using GVMS here and about further HMRC guidance on using GVMS for exports here.
Check times
The new checks are said to be taking up to 15 minutes per vehicle and contributing to queues.
As previously covered in the IOE&IT’s Daily Update, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has claimed that French demands for wet signatures on customs documents for food exports have also contributed to lorry queues.
Rod McKenzie, a spokesman for the Road Haulage Association, said: “The test will be if these queues and other issues subside as traders get used to the red tape. If they continue for much longer it suggests the problems may be more serious than just teething trouble.”