Just before the transition period concluded on the 1st January 2021, a deal was struck between the UK and the EU. This deal means that whilst we are no longer a part of the European Union, we still have a relationship with them.
We want to break down what the deal means for the haulage sector and discuss some ways in which we can help ease the transition.
Northern Ireland Protocol
The Good Friday Agreement meant that special measures had to be put in place for Northern Ireland so that there wouldn’t be a border that breached the agreement placed in-between NI and the Republic of Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Protocol means that there is now a border in the middle of the Irish Sea and it is treated as if it is still a member of the EU, with regards to customs procedures. This means that any goods or consignments that are being transported between the UK and Northern Ireland will now need to be accompanied by the appropriate customs documentation.
Tariffs
Before the transition period ended a lot of people seemed to think that we would see tariffs on goods. This is not the case. The new deal means there won’t be tariffs on goods or a limit on the amount of goods that are allowed to be traded (also known as quotas). Due to this we shouldn’t see changes in the prices of imported goods.
Documentation
There is a lot of customs documentation that now needs to be completed in order to transport goods between the UK and the EU.
Customs declarations (C88)
Customs declarations (C88) are used to declare the value and the type of goods that are being imported or exported. The completion of this documentation is the importer/exporters responsibility.
Safety and Security Declarations (SSD/ENS)
Safety and Security Declarations are another crucial step for moving goods between the UK and the EU. They are used by border authorities to assess the potential risk of goods moving into their territory. These can quicky get complicated. Save time, energy and stress by using the CustomsLink SSD builder.
Port Passes (Logistics Envelopes/Pre-Lodgement Systems)
Port Passes make sure that all of the essential customs processes and documents are complete before you arrive at the port. They also generate updates so that customs authorities are aware of when goods have moved into a different customs territory. Port Passes can be confusing. Sign up to the CustomsLink Port Pass Builder and let them do all the hard work!
You will not be permitted to leave the port if you haven’t got the correct documentation and may face fines and major delays too. It is reallly important that you are ready and aware of everything you need before you depart.