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Logistics UK urges industry to make good use of extra time on import checks
The government’s extension of the deadline for the introduction of checks and customs declarations on imports to the UK from the EU has been welcomed by Logistics UK.
New checks (known as sanitary and phytosanitary checks) on products of animal origin, as well as full customs declarations at the point of importation for goods coming from the EU are to be postponed by six to nine months, as announced by Michael Gove MP in parliament last week (11 March 2021).
Logistics UK argues this delay will ease the administrative burden on logistics organisations currently working to supply the UK through COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Alleviating pressures on the supply chain caused by the current pandemic remains the priority for our sector,” said Sarah Laouadi, European Policy Manager. “This announcement acknowledges the challenges and mounting compliance pressure created by multiple COVID-19 lockdowns and regulations across different European nations. By moving the deadline for the introduction of extra import formalities on goods coming to the UK, the government is providing more time for businesses and authorities to adapt to the upcoming extra requirements, for example by training staff, designing robust business processes to interact with new IT systems and agreeing a new allocation of roles and responsibilities with their supply chain partners. This will protect the UK’s highly interconnected supply chain to keep the nation supplied with the goods and services it needs.
“It is imperative that governments and industry now work hand in hand to make the best possible use of this extra time, to raise the level of readiness for checks both in the UK and in the EU. In particular, Logistics UK is pushing the UK government for a much bigger focus on end-to-end provision of guidance to ease the import process and enhanced engagement with traders, but also hauliers, on both sides of the UK’s border.”
Initially, the UK Government intended to phase in new sanitary and phytosanitary import formalities for a large number of products of animal origin on 1 April. Full customs declarations for all imports without any deferment option were to be required from 1 July, as would physical checks at border control posts on so-called agrifood products.
Laouadi concludes: “This announcement will mean that businesses have an extra six to nine months – depending on products – to prepare for these two deadlines while fast-moving COVID-19-related rules hopefully stabilise and are phased out.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/brexit
Published On: 18/03/2021 17:00:55
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In brief
40% FALL IN EXPORT LEVELS TO THE EU
Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that UK exports of goods to the EU fell by £5.6 billion (40.7%) in January 2021. These are broadly in line with the survey evidence gathered from Logistics UK member companies about the impact of Brexit on their work in early 2021.
“"The announcement of UK export levels at the start of the year by ONS are broadly in line with the survey evidence we have gathered from our member companies about the impact of Brexit on their work in early 2021 said Alex Veitch, Logistics UK’s General Manager of Public Policy, "The figures show that there were issues in January, perhaps caused by the implementation of new processes but also COVID-19 restrictions. However, there have been improvements since then in the flow of goods across the UK’s border."
www.logistics.org.uk/brexit
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