Truck and Track Spring 2023 www.truckandtrack.com 18 DESCARTES™ With ongoing political uncertainty, recession and inflation plus a fuel and energy crisis – all straight off the back of years of Brexit- and pandemic-related supply chain chaos, it’s fair to say UK business has had a challenging few years. Since exiting the EU over three years ago, UK traders have weathered the introduction, delay and ultimate abandoning of some of the rules and regulations for importing goods into the UK. They’ve adopted the new, full controls on exports in the other direction and adapted to new processes laid out by the Northern Ireland Protocol. To add to the disruption, the way UK Customs declarations should be filed is part way through changing and traders are (if slowly) manoeuvring their way through the transition from the legacy CHIEF customs declaration system to CDS. After the best part of four years, and despite multiple date changes and decision reversals, CHIEF has already been withdrawn in part, with the final deadline due later this year: ■ As of the end of 2022, the majority of declarants were no longer able to make import declarations on CHIEF. ■ After 30 November 2023, you won’t be able to make export declarations on CHIEF. Although it will not be possible to use CDS exports at all ports until after the summer, it is currently possible to use CDS in Northern Ireland, via GVMS ports or for Export Supplementary Declarations for those approved for simplified procedures and the possibility to dual run against CHIEF will exist until access to CHIEF is finally decommissioned. Lack of preparedness: lessons from import declarations Last autumn, HMRC sent letters to 220,000 GB VAT registered traders and although not all of them were importers and or exporters, and many would have used the services of a broker or forwarder, this communication was indicative of the lack of awareness – and lack of preparedness – for the impending move. While some traders were early adopters (and Descartes was the first company to get its customers onto the new system way back in 2018) a huge number failed to make the switch in time – with many leaving it to the very last minute - and then not fully appreciating the difference between CHIEF and CDS, trying – and failing - to replicate the same workflows and processes. Unfortunately, we can expect the same this year. With exports to the EU accounting for 42% of all UK exports in 2021, according to data from the House of Commons Library – and exporters more likely than importers to be self-filers - there are likely to be many more organisations who have yet to make the switch. CDS is here – and this time, it’s for real (Yes, really…) By Martin Meacock, Vice-President of Product Management, Descartes Martin Meacock
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