TIR Carnet - promise of easy procedures?

 

From the beginning of 2022, additional customs formalities will apply for transport to the UK. Instead, the solution is to be the TIR carnet, which is encouraged by the international association of carriers IRU.

The IRU is the organisation that actually created the TIR Convention, popularised it and is still involved in issuing carnets (through its national partners). So it is not surprising that the IRU encourages this. However, the organisation also has specific arguments to prove the usefulness of the carnet on EU-British routes.

Each transport to the UK must now be registered in the British GVMS system, receiving there a GMR number. Without this, it is not possible to board a ferry or enter a tunnel. If, on the other hand, someone makes a mistake with this registration or the British have doubts, this can result in several days of waiting.

With a carnet, the risk is supposed to be lower and procedures greatly simplified. When the TIR carnet number is entered in the GVMS declaration, the British GMR number should be ready almost immediately. The procedure is also supposed to be effective in collective transports with various types of cargo. The effectiveness of the procedure will be confirmed by tests with two hauliers - Viomargroup from Romania and MotorLand-Transit from Belarus - who have carried out several routes with TIR to Great Britain since the beginning of the year.

TIR Carnet - Matex Transport Logistics

 

Exit Summary Declaration 

EXS

Each transport to the UK must now be registered in the British GVMS system, receiving there a GMR number. Without this, it is not possible to board a ferry or enter a tunnel. If, on the other hand, someone makes a mistake with this registration or the British have doubts, this can result in several days of waiting. 

 

From 1 October 2021, an Exit Summary Declaration (EXS) is required to be lodged with UK customs when exporting goods from the UK. It is required for the export of:

  • empty pallets,
  • containers and vehicles being transported under a transport contract,
  • empty reusable packaging,
  • goods in temporary storage for more than 14 days,
  • goods in temporary storage for less than 14 days, for which the safety and security data are not known or for which the destination or consignee has changed,
  • and goods in transit under cover of a Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) or a Transit Security Accompanying Document (TSAD) or a TIR carnet.

 

The EXS presentation applies to goods for which no declaration is made for the export procedure on the UK side.

 

What is the GVMS?

GVMS

The Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) is a system designed to help UK services control the movement of goods. The system links reference numbers (MRN) for all goods crossing the UK border in both directions. Once the data has been entered, the system generates a GMR (Goods Movement Reference Number) containing data on a single journey made by a single vehicle. The haulier must present the GMR to the ferry operator or Eurotunnel staff in order to continue the carriage.

From 1 January 2022 GVMS will apply to all imports and exports at UK port locations.

 

What documents need to be registered with GVMS?

These can be:

  • an import declaration (UK import pre-lodgement - the ERN (entry reference number) of that declaration)
  • Simplified border declaration (SFD) or reduced import data set (BIRDS)
  • transit declaration - transit accompanying document (TAD) or transit security accompanying document (TSAD)
  • entry in the declarant's records (EIDR)
  • ATA carnet.

GVMS declarations cannot be based on export declaration documents from EU countries (MRN). GVMS is a British system, and only the numbers of GB customs declarations or NCTS transit declarations can be entered there.

 

New customs rules to prepare for
Full customs control will apply from 1 January 2022 for all goods that are:

  1. exported from the EU to the UK, or
  2. imported into the EU from the UK.

 

This means that from 1 January:

  • Businesses will not be able to delay making import declarations for goods that they import into GB from the EU.
  • All UK border locations will start checking imported and exported goods.
  • Ports that use GVMS to inspect goods will require pre-submitted declaration reference numbers to be linked together under a single reference number, which is just referred to as the GMR.

Drivers transporting goods through the Eurotunnel, Port of Dover or Holyhead may need to clear customs at the UK's Inner Customs Facility (IBF) before leaving or entering the UK. The GVMS allows hauliers to check whether or not they should present themselves for customs checks before entering or leaving the UK.

 

How to use the GVMS?

To generate GMR numbers, the person or company responsible for the movement of goods must be registered with GVMS. This will require a user ID, government gateway and GB EORI number.

Carriers must obtain a GMR number for each shipment. The GMR has a unique identifier, e.g. GMRI 0005 J2FN, which is issued by HMRC (UK Customs) to identify the carriage. This number identifies:

  • the direction of carriage
  • registration number of the vehicle or convoy
  • details of the intended crossing, if available, including port of export, port of entry
  • MRN numbers for all goods carried.

 

 

 

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