Exactly how things will look on 1 January 2021 is still unclear and we recommend you keep a close eye on the evolving Government Brexit transition guidance.
In a recent survey in the UK by CiLT, 82% of members involved in trade with the EU said they were concerned about the Transition Period ending. Worryingly, 31% said they had made little progress with preparations since the start of the year. Given events of 2020, this is not surprising – the industry has more than had its hands full with pandemic-related issues.
Many of the things consumed in the UK come from the EU. Indeed, in 2019, the EU was the UK’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 47% of trade.
Around one-third of the UK’s food is imported from the EU, and many food imports are time-critical, or they spoil. Failure to reach a Trade Agreement in the coming days will likely lead to both delays and price increases, according to Vincent Smith, Assistant Professor in Law Economics and Human Rights at ESCP Business School.
One thing is certain: ignoring the issue will not make it go away. Doomsday predictions abound but the reality is the situation is evolving, guidance is sketchy and at present, no one knows exactly how things will look on 1.1.21.
Lorries cannot just carry on as they did before. The Road Haulage Association makes clear that ‘No lorry should attempt to cross the GB-EU border without complete border paperwork.’
Anyone importing or exporting goods between Great Britain and the EU needs to understand the new processes as outlined in The Border Operating Model. Decisions must be made about how goods will be moved, who will move them and who will submit paperwork (including customs declarations) on behalf of importers and exporters. These are now urgent.
It’s likely you have already made changes to your operation in anticipation of the end of the transition period. If you haven’t then it is time to begin! We have summarised below the key headlines for UK haulage operators. However, this is not intended to be a full guide.
The RHA has produced a comprehensive step-by-step guide which is an overview of key decisions which need to be made. Logistics UK has also produced useful information for member Transport Managers about Road Transport and RoRo changes and procedures.
As of 1.1.21, changes brought about by Brexit will impact the operation of the whole of your business, including:
It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure drivers fully understand the changed procedures and know which documents to present at each stage of the journey.
Another major change is that Customs Declarations and safety and security declarations will be needed for import and export across the UK-EU border. These are the responsibility of the trader who must provide the haulage company (and driver) with the correct documents. HMRC anticipates annual transactions will increase from around 50 million to well over 200 million, and with a shortage of customs agents, you do need to ensure your clients are prepared.
Specific loads, including foodstuffs and live animal imports and exports, may also require extra certifications. Indeed, the RHA reports that in some cases up to 30 pieces of information and documentation may be needed!
There are four options for moving goods across the border. These are Pre-notification, Common Transit Convention (CTC), Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission (ATA) and Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR). Each of these will require a Safety and security declaration, although these will be waived for the first six months, until 30 June 2021.
More information and a checklist of customs documents for each of these can be found on the Government Website.
To make things more straightforward, many traders will opt to use a third party such as a customs agent or logistics company offering Customs Brokerage, such as long-term CameraMatics customer McCulla Transport.
Although there is a lot to do, there is still time to make preparations. Many of the above-outlined steps are fairly straightforward and starting late is better than not starting at all.
The good news is, some things aren’t changing. Wherever your vehicles are – in the UK or the EU, your CameraMatics system will work as normal and continue to protect your drivers and make your fleet safer, smarter and more efficient.
Shaun Malik, Vice President, Client Development
US Head Office
CameraMatics LLC
1806 Summit Ave, Suite 300
Richmond,VA 23230
USA
Tel: 804.420.2833
Email: smalik@cameramatics.com