Newsletters

Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI) was designed to simplify cross-border trade, but businesses and customs intermediaries still face significant hurdles in making it a reality. In its recent feedback to the European Commission’s Customs Business Group, CLECAT highlights why CCI remains underused and what needs to change to unlock its full potential.

The biggest stumbling block is import VAT. Since VAT is generally due where goods enter the EU, traders must juggle customs and tax obligations in different countries, often with extra national conditions, technical requirements, and prior authorisations. This fragmentation turns what should be a simplification into another layer of complexity.

With over 90% of customs clearances handled by intermediaries, the current restriction of CCI to indirect representation creates a catch-22: customs agents won’t take on the liability for data they don’t control, while traders lack the expertise or infrastructure to go it alone. Even when companies understand CCI, they’re unlikely to restructure their operations for a system that still feels unharmonised and cumbersome.

VAT registration in another Member State is possible in theory, but in practice, it means navigating administrative formalities, inaccessible IT portals, and local representative requirements. And while the EU Trader Portal offers a central entry point, national systems often remain disconnected, making data exchange and authorisation management a persistent challenge. Add to this the need for local intermediaries to handle physical controls and sector-specific rules (like veterinary or environmental checks), and the promised cost savings of CCI quickly evaporate.

Divergent national practices, from security requirements to audit competences, further complicate matters, increasing compliance risks and financial exposure for businesses. CLECAT’s members have noted that without stronger harmonisation of VAT rules, interoperable IT systems, and clearer responsibilities between Member States, CCI will struggle to gain traction. As the EU’s customs reform envisions a CCI-like structure as the default, addressing these issues is more urgent than ever.  CLECAT is ready to work with policymakers to turn CCI into a tool that truly simplifies trade, rather than one that adds to the paperwork.