The Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) is issuing a reminder on the upcoming switch to the government’s new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for exports.

The HMRC-sponsored forum is advising businesses of the need to use CDS for export declarations by 30 November 2023, when the final switchover from the old Customs Handing of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system will occur.

From that point on, CHIEF will be fully closed.

The final deadline for exporters had previously been extended by eight months, as reported by the IOE&IT Daily Update.

Timeline

Different groups of traders will be able to use CDS at different points, so the JCCC has set out key dates to help businesses plan ahead:

• Late February 2023 – exporters that only move goods through UK ports using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service will be given information of how to start making CDS declarations using third-party software
• May 2023 – the JCCC will contact traders that use the National Export System service to let them know how to use CDS to make an export declaration
• September 2023 – export declarants using Designated Export Place movements will be given information on how to start using CDS on third-party software.
• 30 November 2023 – all export declarations need to be made through CDS

Notice to traders

As part of this communication, the JCCC is reminding businesses to take the following steps:

• Register for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number
• Subscribe to CDS
• Read the latest Customs Declaration Service guidance on the government’s website

Transit

In a separate government announcement, HMRC has also made a number of changes to its online guidance on cross-border transit in response to stakeholder feedback.

The updates will affect any traders using the Common Transit Convention, a customs facilitation to allow for goods to cross multiple borders without checks at each point of entry.

Official guidance has been refreshed and now includes a new landing page, step-by-step routes and simpler navigation.

HMRC’s Sally Beggs, deputy director, said:

“Transit is an important customs facilitation for many businesses moving goods in and out of the UK, and it’s vital we provide them with the right support and information.

“We’ve listened carefully to feedback from a wide range of Transit users about the information they need, and this has helped us improve the guidance our customers can access online.”

Single Trade Window review

The HMRC has recently announced the results of an internal review of one of the key features of the government’s 2025 Border Strategy.

According to an official announcement, Jim Harra – the CEO of HMRC – reviewed the government’s single trade window (STW) project to assess whether or not it measured up to standards on managing public money.

The STW is a single digital gateway for traders to complete their import, export and transit obligations, and is aimed at simplifying cross-border movements and removing barriers to trade.

Assessing the programme by value for money, property, regularity and feasibility, the review came to the conclusion that, on balance, “the proposal is value for money and deliverable.”