Dutch shippers are facing greater complexity in their supply chains as the Netherlands begins the roll-out of a new customs declaration system to standardise customs procedures in accordance with the outlines the European Union Customs Code (UCC).
Dutch customs is replacing its AGS and G(S)PA declarations systems with the Customs Declaration Management System (DMS), with a deadline for completion of January 2023.
The move comes as HMRC confirmed earlier this month the dates when the UK’s much-delayed new customs declaration system CDS will take over from CHIEF, the UK’s thirty+ year old system.
Challenge for users
Regarding the new Dutch system, Godfried Smit, manager of European affairs at Evofenedex, which represents 15,000 Dutch import, export and transportation companies, told the Loadstar the change would be a “challenge” for users due to the timeline and lack of clarity.
“Not everything, including software costs, is clear and companies are having to make choices without complete information,” he said.
According to the Customs Administration of the Netherlands, the exact date businesses and customs will be able to use DMS is not yet clear, although expectations are that it will be available for use early in 2022.
Real-time system
According to AJOT, DMS will replace current procedures for periodic declarations and existing procedures for placing goods in customs warehouses, with an automated, real-time system.
C4T explains that Dutch customs authorities are trying to streamline customs procedures to support the timely flow of logistics processes. The roll-out of UCC legal requirements will have significant implications for Dutch companies.
The main change is that for certain procedures, the process will shift from periodic reporting to a real-time declaration process that is in sync with logistics flows.
The UCC came into being in 2016 and is a simplified law covering all EU members that aims to facilitate trade across EU borders, decrease compliance costs for business, and sets out to implement more electronic data processing techniques.