Archives



Business, Forwarding, Freight News, Logistics


Unprepared for import controls? Make friends with a forwarder, says BIFA

[ December 6, 2021   //   ]

With many importers unprepared for changes to import customs rules on 1 January there is no better time to use the services of a freight forwarder, says the British International Freight Association.

BIFA director general Robert Keen, says that he was a little surprised to read that research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found a significant majority of small importers that will be impacted by the new rules and checks are not yet prepared for their introduction in less than a month’s time.

He said: “Given the amount of information that has been issued by the government over the past 12 months, and the amount of information that is available on the websites of various government departments, as well as trade associations, it is alarming that so many respondents said that they were unable to prepare for the introduction of the new rules, or were not aware of them.

“Along with the government, BIFA has made it clear that businesses should appoint a specialist to deal with import and export declarations, regardless of the amount or value of trade that the business does with Europe.”

He urged any business that is not fully prepared for the introduction of import controls to visit BIFA’s website for details of a member that can help them, adding: “Many of those members have made significant investments to be able to handle the major upsurge in activities in regards to customs processing both before and since the UK left the EU.”

Tags: ,