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At the beginning of this year, trade embraced another portion of changes in GB’s relationship with the EU (excluding Ireland). As of 1 January 2022, full customs controls apply to all traded goods, along with additional pre-notification requirements for certain SPS shipments. Three weeks after the entry into effect of the new requirements, CLECAT members report on technical and IT issues,  particularly concerning the functioning of the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS). Those include flawed interoperability with other relevant IT systems such as the customs declaration system (CHIEF) and the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS), as well as lacking transparency and updated information on the GVMS website. Challenges from the first days of the year also include port-related organisational issues, causing confusion in logistics and incorrect crossings.

CLECAT members also face challenges related to the new SPS requirements for imports into GB. In particular, there is still a lack of clarity on which products are subject to the pre-notification requirements, which are ultimately linked to the customs clearance of the goods. It is pertinent to provide a list with the specific HS codes for the products covered, towards better clarity and predictably, and avoiding disruptions at the border.

In general, CLECAT members report that the situation at the EU-GB border is stabilising, thanks to commendable efforts by the HMRC to address existing issues. That is also due to improving knowledge in the private sector of the new rules and procedures. CLECAT continues to stress the need to boost efforts in raising awareness and ensure an adequate level of preparedness among EU hauliers and especially smaller traders. At the same time, CLECAT also notes that adjusting to the post-Brexit trading environment is a learning curve that needs to be approached in a flexible and pragmatic way, to help economic operators in the ongoing transition.