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BIFA warns of New Year rules and regs tsunami

[ August 31, 2023   //   ]

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is warning that its members may struggle to deal with the wave of new rules and systems set to introduced in the New Year.
It comes in response to the Government’s publication of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) on 29 August setting out planned security and biosecurity import controls.
Following the country’s withdrawal from the European Union, new controls on UK exports to the EU are already in place, but the government postponed introduction of new import controls several times, citing economic and other concerns.
Meanwhile, HMRC is in in the process of introducing a new customs IT system, CDS, to replace the aging computer, a process that has also been subject to a number of postponements. CDS is now handling import declarations but will now take over export declarations in March 2024, a postponement from November 2023.
BIFA director general, Steve Parker said: “Our members will already be in the process of moving all export declarations from CHIEF to CDS by 30 March 2024 and will now need to make sure they are ready for the delayed introduction of remaining sanitary and phytosanitary controls, as well as full customs controls for non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods, which will now be introduced from January 2024. Then from April 2024, they will also have to implement checks on medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU.”
He added: ” Those BIFA members that are actively involved in handling the movement of products imported into the UK for which Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks; safety and security declarations; and health certifications are required will be hoping that they will see a return on the time and money that they have invested in staff and resources to meet the original and five times revised implementation timetable.”
BIFA was cautious over government announcements setting out new dates and an implementation timetable for the BTOM, he said.
He also said that the BTOM did not address concerns raised by BIFA with DEFRA over whether Port Health Authorities would be able to take on the task of handling increased volumes of international trade.
It appeared also that implementation of the new BTOM was dependent on the successful implementation of the government’s planned Single Trade Window (STW).
While this has the laudable aim of reducing the number of times trades need to make declaration to the various government agencies, it is still a work in progress.
Parker commented: “There are references to the STW which is still very much under development. It is important to emphasise that the implementation of the BTOM is reliant on the implementation of a workable STW, as the two programmes are dependent on one another. After the STW has been developed, additional time will be needed to link commercial IT systems to the STW.
“In view of the fact that large IT projects are often delayed there has to be concern regarding the envisaged timetable.”
The long drawn out process of introducing the BTOM may not be over, he added, saying: “Some comments in the document state that certain elements of the BTOM have not been finalised and that the timetable may be changed at a later date.
In Kent, for example, clarity is essential for traders of SPS goods, but the document states that: “The provision of Inland Border Control facilities in Kent for goods entering the UK through the Short is being reviewed.”
“This uncertainty is not helpful for traders involved in this particular trade and makes it difficult to finalise decisions on routing and ensuring regulatory controls are complied with on such shipments.”

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