New rules for hauliers and carriers transporting goods between the EU and the UK have been announced. Beginning 1 January 2022, all commodities exported from the EU to the UK or exported to the UK will be subject to full customs controls. Read on to learn more about the new regulations and prepare for these changes.
Who Will Be Affected by the New Rules for Hauliers & Carriers?
From 2022, new laws will govern the transport of products to and through Europe. The rules are included in the UK and EU’s Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The new laws will apply to you if you move items using automobiles, trailers, vans, pickup trucks, and other light freight vehicles, and vehicles capable of transporting large amounts of material (HGVs).
Registration for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service
Full customs controls on exports from the UK to the EU are now in place, and the UK government has indicated that full controls on all imports from the EU into the UK will be implemented as scheduled on 1 January 2022. This means that, as of 1 January, certain UK ports will utilise the GVMS IT system for clearing all goods transported between the UK and the EU through customs.
If you have not previously enrolled for Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), you will be unable to pass your items through customs and be denied entry to the country. Until 31 December 2021, you are only required to use GVMS if you are transporting goods into the UK from the EU in accordance with the Common Transit Convention.
Even though you are not required to use it immediately, you should register for GVMS today to ensure compliance with the new standards effective 1 January 2022.
Who Is Required To Register?
You must register for GVMS if you are an independent driver and completing your own customs paperwork, a company that sub-contracts to pick up goods on behalf of another business, or a logistics company hired to transport goods and complete customs processes. Large retail businesses transporting and declaring goods must also register.
Goods Movement Reference (GMR)
Ports that utilise the GVMS for cargo management will require pre-lodged declaration references to be combined into a single reference number referred to as a Goods Movement Reference (GMR). To check in with the carrier, you must produce a valid GMR.
If you are the driver transporting the items, you will often construct your own GMR. However, a third party can perform this function – for example, the management of your haulier or the trader’s customs agent or freight forwarder. You must build a single GMR for each car. As the driver, you must ensure that you have the GMR and all relevant customs information and documentation before reaching the border. You can learn more about GMR at gov.uk/guidance/get-a-goods-movement-reference
Updates to EU-GB Import Controls
The UK Government has announced a new pragmatic timeline for implementing full import controls on products imported from the EU. Customs declarations and controls on goods imported from the EU will continue to be implemented as scheduled from 1 January, which means that:
- Businesses will be unable to postpone the filing of import declarations. If you are transporting goods from the EU via ports that use the pre-lodgement model or the Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS), the firm transporting the goods must complete full import declarations prior to reaching the UK border.
- All border crossing points will be required to begin policing goods. This means that you will be unable to enter the port with products unless they have been cleared by customs.
Moreover, from 1 July 2022, safety and security Entry Summary (ENS) disclosures for products transported from the EU to the United Kingdom will also be required.
Other modifications pertain to the requirement for certificates and inspections of live animals and agri-food products. Additional information about the changes is available on the gov.uk website.
Get in touch with an experienced lawyer to learn more about the changing regulation and how the change may impact you.