Archives



Business, Forwarding, Freight News, Logistics


Safety and security decs should be waived, says Clecat

[ August 14, 2020   //   ]

European forwarder’s group CLECAT is calling for safety and security declarations to be waived in a position paper addressing the remaining Brexit issues.

Director general Nicolette van der Jagt, said that, according to the current state of play in the negotiations, operators on both sides would have to lodge entry and exit summary declarations, also known as safety and security declarations, in addition to the already required import, export and transit declarations which contain largely the same information.

She added: “On the EU side’, she continued, ‘CLECAT understands that a phased approach, like the UK has taken, is not feasible. Nonetheless, we urge the EU to take its own ongoing implementations into account when putting border formalities into place. In the next couple of years, many legal and IT implementations will take full effect. Logistics operators will have to implement a large amount of new systems and accompanying procedures at EU and national level. Many of these implementations take place around the same time the UK will leave the EU, but the implementations are not aligned. This means that in various cases, old systems and procedures need to be implemented, only to be replaced shortly after by new national or EU systems.”

She also commended the UK Government for its active engagement and efforts to keep businesses informed and prepared, including the “helpful” Border Operating Model recently published. “However, sufficient practical and technical guidance regarding specific aspects and formalities at border crossings is still needed, as well as more information on the movement of goods into, out of and through Northern Ireland. We are aware of the complexity of the ongoing discussions between the EU and the UK. However, if crucial information for preparedness is only available once the negotiations are concluded, there will not be sufficient time left for the industry to get ready. This relates especially to negotiations on Northern Ireland.”

CLECAT also appreciates the efforts of the UK Government to boost the capacity of the intermediary sector. However, we consider that in order for it to be fully effective, more effort could be made to increase the attractiveness of the sector.

Tags: