MD View: businesses are still navigating post-Brexit trade

It's clear that businesses are still navigating the complexities of post-Brexit trade, Customs Consultants, Brightfinch Ltd, reports last quarter UK trade figures as:

• Exports down £2.3 bn (2.5%)
• Exports to EU down £1.7 bn (3.7%)
• Imports down £4.3 bn (3%)
• Imports from EU down £2.5 bn (3.1%)

Staying with customs matters hauliers are reminded of the following January updates to customs procedures:

• 21st January-full implementation of the New Computerised System phase 5 (NCTSS), essentially affecting goods moving under transit, requires electronic presentation of Movement Reference Numbers (MRN’s) amongst other changes.

• 30th January-Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) reclassification of certain plant products from medium risk to low risk.

• 31st January- Safety and Security (S&S) Declarations, from this date, all goods imported from the EU must be accompanied by a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) submitted through the Safety and Security Great Britain (S&S GB) service. Hauliers are responsible for accompanied trailers.

The RHA is checking if this also applies to empty trailers or trailers carrying empty pallets & stillages. Check with your customs agent and ferry operator. Incomplete or incorrect declarations may lead to detention of goods at the border, rejection of customs clearance, additional checks and potential financial penalties.

The EU Mobility Package mandates further upgrade to tachographs in trucks used for international transport within the EU. By August 18th, 2025, GV21 tachographs must be replaced with newer versions. For vehicles registered before 14th June 2019, a transitional period for replacing analogue or digital tachographs extends until 28th February 2025.

A challenge in December to the EU Mobility Package by some member countries has resulted in a hold on the provision for vehicles used in international transport to return to operational base country every eight weeks, however the court confirmed the following provisions, designed to improve working conditions for drivers whilst ensuring fair competition between transport companies across the EU:

• Prohibition on weekly rest in vehicles, drivers are barred from taking regular or compensatory weekly rest inside their vehicles.

• Driver return obligations, transport companies are required to ensure their drivers can return to their operational base or place of residence every three of four weeks.

• Cabotage rules, the package includes a four-day waiting period after cabotage operations, to prevent continuous operation in a host country.

• Posting of drivers, the court upheld the classification of drivers as “posted workers” when carrying out cross border work, meaning they are entitled to the working conditions of the country where they are operating, particularly in terms of remuneration.