Robert Keen’s Column
BIFAlink
www.bifa.org
BIFA launches CDS training course
BIFAlink is the official magazine of the British International Freight Association Redfern House, Browells Lane, Feltham TW13 7EP Tel: 020 8844 2266
August saw an announcement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the timetable for the full introduction of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and the retirement of the CHIEF system that has enabled UK entry processing for almost 28 years. BIFA has been asking for clarity regarding the full introduction of CDS for a long time and we have expressed concerns from BIFA Members that CHIEF should not be withdrawn from service until CDS is proven to be operationally sound and fit for purpose. There is history in the UK of Government computer transformation not meeting milestone dates and some BIFA Members have contacted us to express concerns, however the publication of the HMRC timetable suggests that there is
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Director General Robert Keen r.keen@bifa.org Executive Director Robert Windsor
confidence in an orderly transition, the key word being ‘suggests’. So, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new BIFA online training course from September designed specifically to help our Members understand and implement the different working methods involved with the new system. The course is suitable for anyone completing Customs declarations and will cover the main differences between CHIEF and CDS to enable users to submit Customs declarations for exports and imports via the new system no matter which software supplier is used. Full details can be found at www.bifa.org/training/customs-procedures Having started the ball rolling by commissioning development of the course last Autumn, I must pay tribute to my BIFA colleagues who have put in many hours of work with our provider Walkgrove, a specialist e-learning solutions company. We also thank our friends at Agency Sector Management (ASM UK) whose technical help was invaluable. Those of you with long memories will remember the so-called Nigerian fax scam that later became known as the 419-letter scam (419 being the section of the Nigerian criminal code covering such activity). Of course, with the advent of e-mail such scams have proliferated and no doubt you all receive scam e-mails on a regular basis and have procedures in place to identify and ignore them. So, you may have been concerned if a recent e-mail appearing to come from BIFA landed in your inbox, pursuing the usual format of an unpaid invoice. Many BIFA Members contacted us asking if our systems had been hacked but it seems that this is termed a ‘spoofing’ event and was orchestrated from outside of BIFA. As always with dubious e-mails, close examination of the sender e-mail address reveals that it has no relation to bifa.org All we can do is advise BIFA Members to ignore and delete it in the same way that you would the offers from people to transfer millions of pounds into your bank account. If you have any concerns please contact the Secretariat. Last month, I commented on increasing pressure from consumer bodies on regulatory authorities to “do something” about the global maritime supply chain problems and shipping line charges. What anyone can do to address rates charged in a free-market economy is questionable however the matter has been referred to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) by the British Chambers of Commerce. The CMA is currently consulting to understand the position and it’s our view they will not intervene unless there is any evidence of shipping lines colluding on pricing. However, BIFA Members are increasingly bearing the brunt of customer complaints about a situation that is beyond their control. Delays such as a lack of drivers, disrupted port operations and COVID-19 or “pingdemic” related problems are Force Majeure so it is important that BIFA Members maintain communication with customers to emphasise that you are acting as an intermediary and such matters are outside of your control. Customers need to be reminded that any such additional costs will need to be passed on. We published a report recently (https://bifa.org/news/articles/2021/jul/freight-association-sees-no-change-in-container- shipping-fundamentals-for-months-possibly-years?l=y) at the request of the BIFA Surface Policy Group to assist BIFA Members in demonstrating to their customers that this is a global problem. To end, I would like to remind Members that from 1 October 2021, there will be new requirements to continue importing animal products from the European Union into Great Britain. It is important that businesses take the necessary preparatory steps to ensure they can comply with the new requirements. To assist businesses, the Trader Readiness Team Animal and Animal Products Imports Project will be holding webinars for traders. Search Gov.UK for “Webinars for importers of food and drink products from the EU to Great Britain”
r.windsor@bifa.org Executive Director Spencer Stevenson s.stevenson@bifa.org Executive Director Carl Hobbis c.hobbis@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor Pawel Jarza p.jarza@bifa.org Policy & Compliance Advisor David Stroud d.stroud@bifa.org Editorial Co-ordinator Sharon Hammond s.hammond@bifa.org Membership Supervisor Sarah Milton s.milton@bifa.org Published by Park Lane Publishing peter@parklanepublishingltd.com Contributors
Robert Keen, Robert Windsor, Pawel Jarza, David Stroud, Spencer Stevenson, Carl Hobbis, Sharon Hammond
Note to media: If you wish to use items in this magazine that are older than 1 month, please contact the editor to ensure that the item in question still reflects the current circumstances. Please be advised that BIFA DOES NOT OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. BIFA is not a law firm and the authors of this publication are not legally qualified and do not have any legal training. The guidance and assistance set out herein are based on BIFA’s own experience with the issues concerned and should not be in any circumstances regarded or relied upon as legal advice. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering further action based on the information contained in this publication should seek the advice of a qualified professional.
Robert Keen Director General
September 2021
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