All systems go on transition to improved customs experience
Customs brokerage at GTS continues to thrive as more businesses turn to us to navigate smooth passage through the choppy waters of import and export clearances.
In recent months, our team of experts have transitioned from using HMRC’s Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system to use the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) – primed and ready to tackle the advanced challenges of customs declarations in post-Brexit Britain.
It’s been a significant undertaking for our team but we have worked tirelessly to make sure our customers are still able to transport their goods unaffected.
But what difference will it make to our clients?
Simply put, transitioning to CDS means we have access to a more up-to-date system. It contains more codes and controls to improve the specificity of the entry, therefore reducing the chance of anything going wrong as goods cross borders.
Changing systems mid-customs clearance is traditionally is a huge challenge. With the flow of goods never-ending, there is no downtime in which to implement new processes. This raises the opportunity for errors to be flagged by the new system after the customs process had already begun using the old system.
We warned our many customers in Italy that their imports could incur some disruption and delay due to the changeover. But, if this is the first you’ve heard of it, it suggests we did a good job!
The timescale
The last day to make import declarations through CHIEF was 30th September 2022. The deadline for exports is a little longer.
Companies have until 30th November this year to transition to the new system – but we’re already ahead of the curve and are working towards making the switch much sooner.
Our customs team
GTS’ customs division is led up by Tatiana, after a recent promotion. In May, she was appointed Customs Team Leader after spending her first couple of years at the company expanding her knowledge and becoming the go-to person for customs queries.
She found the previous system – CHIEF – straightforward to understand and has led on the transfer to CDS with ease.
How can we help?
Under the guidance of Tatiana and Tony – our MD - our team has been training for months to make sure they can tackle even the most complex customs entries using the new system.
If your business would benefit from their expert knowledge, get in touch today here.
