BIFAlink
Policy & Compliance
www.bifa.org
Current model
UK Single Trade Window
HMRC
HMRC
UK Single Trade Window
DEFRA
DEFRA
Home Office
Home Office
Trader/ intermediary
Trader/ intermediary
Call for evidence – an independent Customs regime
11:45pm on 2 May 2022) inviting respondents’ views on: • The Customs intermediary sector; • The Simplified Customs Declaration Process (SCDP); • The transit facilitation. The consultation document makes it clear that government intends to look at all aspects of how the frontier functions. The document clearly states: “This call for evidence (CfE) therefore includes a section to test with business whether the services the UK Customs intermediary sector currently provides are easily accessible, high- quality and cost effective.” BIFA will engage at every opportunity on this subject but, the structure and nature of the questions within the CfE require Members to respond in person.
The government wants your views on the Single Trade Window. While at the moment there is a lack of clarity about the functionality of this, the government seems to believe there are significant possibilities for cutting red tape
The freight forwarding/Customs intermediary sector – due to EU-Exit, COVID-19 and significant changes to IT systems – has endured a period of unprecedented change and stress over the last five years. Part of BIFA’s role is to represent its Members’ views to government and to promote the sector’s importance. For as long as the writer can remember, there has been talk of a Single Trade Window, but technology was never sufficiently advanced to allow it to function properly – now it is, in all probability. Up to a point government knows that it has increased the administrative burden on those trading with our former EU partners. So, it has to offset this as much as it can by simplifying all global trade, including with the EU. Unprecedented growth Government should remember that the systems and players who have made the frontier work have served trade well for many years. These players have facilitated an unprecedented growth in trade levels and successfully coped with the twin challenges of new systems resulting from the UK’s exit from the EU and the disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Single Trade Window (STW) has significant government funding – to the tune of
The questionnaire The document can be viewed at
Scan to access consultation
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for- evidence-an-independent-customs-regime?utm _medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk- notifications-topic&utm_source=24ec9056-46cb -4759-b739-238f03c3788f&utm_content=daily Via its policy and regional structure, BIFA will consult with Members to ascertain their views, which can be fed back to government. However, the Association would encourage all Members to consider replying directly to government. If any Member wishes to discuss this consultation, please contact Robert Windsor (r.windsor@bifa.org) with a synopsis of your enquiry and the BIFA Secretariat will contact you as soon as possible.
£180 million, a clear indication of commitment and intent. However, at the moment there is a lack of clarity about its functionality and how it will be used. At the simplest level it is a portal to allow data to be submitted once and then disseminated to multiple government agencies. However, many of the discussions indicate that government feels that a STW could do much more, allowing much wider access to IT systems including multiple filing of data. On 7 February 2022, the government announced a 12-week consultation (closing at
8
April 2022
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker