FREIGHT FORWARDERS WELCOME CUSTOMS COMPROMISE

BIFA (www.bifa.org) - the trade association which represents the interests of Britain’s freight forwarding community - welcomes the news from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that when SAD Harmonisation is implemented on 1st October 2007, dual running of both old and new type Customs declarations will be allowed until 20th January 2008.

Comments Colin Beaumont, BIFA Director General: “During our discussions with HMRC, we have always made it clear that forwarders, importers and exporters would face major disruption if HMRC was not to allow a reasonable period of dual running, especially in the busy autumn period. We have lobbied hard for HMRC to maintain a minimum three-month period for dual running at the implementation stage,

“This will give forwarders the ability to adapt to the new procedures and uncover any defects of upgraded systems and software along the way. HMRC has listened to industry concerns and is adopting a more pragmatic approach, with both systems operating simultaneously for just over three months. It should make the significant risks involved for all concerned more manageable.

“The decision is a further testimony to the lobbying activities that we undertake on behalf of our members. We have continued to make strong representations on behalf of the industry direct to HMRC through our Customs Policy Group (PG5).”

The new, more harmonised SAD (SAD-H) is an EU Commission initiative linked to other EU-level information technology projects designed to bring about the aimed for ‘paperless customs environment’ under the modernised Community Customs Code. These will include new pre-arrival / departure freight reporting requirements, for security purposes, for ‘third country’ traffic.

A JCCC paper confirming these details can be found on the HMRC web site at www.hmrc.gov.uk.