All news & events

On 28 April, the UK government announced that no further import controls on EU goods will be introduced this year and that businesses can now stop their preparations for Phase 3 of the Border Operating Model, which was planned to roll out in July. The UK Government will publish a Target Operating Model in the Autumn that will set out how and when the UK will introduce an improved regime of border import controls. This new regime will apply equally to goods from the EU and goods from the Rest of the World, from the end of 2023.

The European Commission opened on 26 April a public consultation on the evaluation of the Directive 96/53/EC on weights and dimensions for heavy duty-vehicles. For reference, the Directive, sets out standards for the maximum weights and dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles used in national and international transport. As announced in the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, the revision of the Directive would help to make road transport more sustainable by making available sustainable alternatives and the right incentives to drive the transition.

On 26 April, the European Commission published a call for evidence for an amendment of the EU Slots Regulation, which should take into account the potential emergence of restrictive measures related to COVID-19, as well as to address the closure of airspace as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The call for evidence will remain open until 24 May.

The Loadstar reported on 25 April that German ocean carrier Hapag Lloyd has received a fine of $822,220 for 14 violations – $58,730 for each offence – of the US Shipping Act, after an FMC investigation found it incorrectly applied detention and demurrage (D&D) charges to 11 containers handled by California drayage firm Golden State Logistics (GSL).

On 28 April, MEPs from the EP’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee adopted a resolution on the impact of Russian illegal war of aggression against Ukraine on the EU transport and tourism sectors, by 43 votes in favours, one against and five abstentions.

On 27 April, CLECAT participated in a workshop on transport and logistics, forming part of the stakeholder dialogue on the EU Toolbox against counterfeiting, organised by the European Commission and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). During the workshop, a presentation was given on the state of play of the EU Toolbox against counterfeiting, following which an extensive discussion was held between the stakeholders, the Commission and the EUIPO on identified trends, challenges and good practices to prevent the use of transport and logistics services for IP-infringing activities.

On 28 April, CLECAT’s Customs and Indirect Taxation Institute (CITI) met in a hybrid format to discuss important developments across Europe impacting customs and trade, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the implementation of related EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as well as preparations for the next phase of post-Brexit UK controls on EU imports.

CLECAT, together with the European Express Association (EEA), the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) issued a joint statement on 26 April calling on Members of the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament to agree on the inclusion of road transport in the ETS provided that the following principles are embraced.