31 August 2022

Customs Declaration Service

The UK customs authority HMRC is closing its Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system on March 31, 2023. It will be replaced by a more modern and secure IT platform, the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). This will be the UK’s only customs platform. All companies making customs declarations in the UK will have to declare goods using this Customs Declaration Service. They will need to prepare for this in good time otherwise cargo in the UK may soon be delayed. 

HMRC is implementing the replacement of the system in two phases: 
-    From 30 September 2022, it will no longer be possible to make import declarations using CHIEF
-    From 31 March 2023, export declarations can also no longer be made using CHIEF

The UK government has already informed all registered UK importers about this. However, our partner in the UK, Davies Turner, has noticed that not all importers are currently aware of this upcoming change. Therefore, if your customer is not prepared in time, your goods will not be able to be cleared and there will (possibly) be storage costs. 

Our partner Davies Turner is now also actively approaching the importers known to them (via email and telephone, when handling current import shipments) to ensure that we can still offer you smooth import handling after September 30. However, the responsibility for being properly prepared lies with the importer.

You may be able to help by contacting your customer in the UK and asking them if they are properly prepared to use the new system.

Some useful link(s):
Customs Declaration Service (CDS) - Action required | Davies Turner
Trader checklist – moving to Customs Declaration Service | GOV.UK