Brexit and Customs: Where we are

Whether or not a trade agreement is reached with the EU, there will be new customs processing, declarations and EUVAT/Duty payments from the 1st January 2021.

The Brexit transition period ends on 31st December 2020, with major alterations to trade procedures, that you should be prepared for, these changes are nothing new.

The government consider that more than sufficient time has been given to prepare for change. Customs declarations will have major implications for ALL European shippers and particularly those who have not previously completed Customs and transit entries.

Meeting the December deadline was a huge challenge, even before coronavirus, but the British government has repeatedly and determinedly rejected calls to extend the transition, with the final opportunity expiring at the end of June.

The UK ceased to be a member of the EU on the 1st February and is no longer part of the bloc’s institutions, including the Customs Union, whether or not a trade agreement is reached there will be new customs processing, declarations and EUVAT/Duty payments.

From the 1st January 2021 ALL movements between the EU and the UK will be treated as 3rd country movements, requiring an estimated 550,000 additional declarations every day.

These are profound changes and with 145,000 businesses, submitting declarations for the first time and the potential for delays and interruptions to your supply chain is real.

Metro are fully AEO accredited and have been preparing for Brexit, for well over 12 months, training and development of resources has been matched with software and system developments to allow the expedited processing of entries.

Taking action now can protect you and ensure that your supply chain remains robust and compliant, saving you time, protecting your market, and ensuring your cashflow isn’t interrupted.

Contact your Metro account manager for more details and where we can assist including our Brexit consultancy and Health Check Packages.