Ready for Brexit as an importer
All ferry terminals and shortsea terminals in the Netherlands make participation in our chain-wide solution for the actual-obligatory customs formalities mandatory. No pre-notified document at the terminal means that cargo cannot leave the terminal.
The checklist below helps you to continue to swiftly transport cargo from the United Kingdom as an importer. Moreover, do you take the customs requirements into account for imports since the introduction of the CVB?
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Your checklist
As an importer, will you make sure that your cargo flows smoothly via the Dutch ports? Read here which actions are required on your part for transport via both shortsea and ferry.
Step 1: Register with Customs
No relationship with Customs yet? Then register for an EORI number with Customs as soon as possible. Every company in Europe involved in import or export requires such a unique identification number from Customs. Also if you are an importer who uses a forwarder or customs agent for your import declarations.
Pay attention! Have you worked with a British EORI number? Because of the Brexit you have to convert this to an EORI number from the EU*.
Ad*: only available in Dutch
Step 2: Establish who is responsible for the import declarations
Decide whether you will submit import declarations to Customs yourself as an importer or whether you will use a forwarder or customs agent. If you submit declarations yourself, separate software and licenses will be required. On the website of the Dutch Customs you will find a list of software suppliers who can help you.
You may also need to arrange this:
**NVWA is Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority
Step 3: Determine who will pre-notify the customs documents
For imports from the United Kingdom, the pre-notification of customs documents via Portbase is mandatory at all ferry terminals and shortsea terminals in the Netherlands. You can take care of this pre-notification yourself in your capacity as an importer, but the forwarder, customs agent or, on occasion, transporter can do this as well. Make clear agreements about this! These Dutch (customs) forwarders could help you. If you do the pre-notifications yourself, these software suppliers can create a system link if desired. Without pre-notification, your cargo will come to a standstill at the terminal.
Step 4: Subscribe to the Portbase services
You use Portbase to digitally pre-notify customs documents at shortsea and ferry terminals.
For import (cargo from the United Kingdom to the Netherlands): service Notification Import Documentation
The pre-notification of customs documents can be done via the web as well as (in the case of larger numbers) by means of a system link. These software suppliers can help you make such a system link.
Take note! Additional information for existing customers of Notification Import Documentation
- In order to prenotify import documents to shortsea and ferry terminals, existing customers of Notification Import Documentation have to sign a supplementary terminal contract. In consultation with these terminals, Portbase has drawn up a single umbrella contract. By sending an email to sales@portbase.com, you can request the umbrella contract and return the signed copy to Portbase.
- If you are an existing customer of Notification Import Documentation using a system link-up, then please check with your IT department or software supplier that you are using the correct version of the service. The message specifications can be found here.
Costs and participation Notification Import Documentation
The use of Notification Import Documentation for the pre-notification of import documents at ferry terminals involves a one-off connection fee € 249.50 (excluding VAT) for new customers. For the day-to-day use, there is a monthly subscription fee plus a transaction fee per message.
Curious how the service works?
Step 5: Check beforehand whether the terminal has the customs documents
After the pre-notification, you can use Portbase to track the cargo in real-time. If necessary, you can still take action should something not be correct with the pre-notification.
For import (cargo from the United Kingdom to the Netherlands): service Import Status
Service for real-time insight into the customs status of incoming cargo at shortsea and ferry terminals. You can immediately see whether the required customs obligations have been met and whether Customs might want to inspect the cargo. The transporter is expected to use Import Status to verify whether the customs document is known at the terminal prior to departing for said terminal. Without correctly pre-notified customs document, the cargo is not permitted to leave the terminal. The driver that picks up the cargo, will then be referred to a public parking location. In consultation with his planner or you as client, he can still arrange the customs formalities here.
Costs and registration Import Status
Import Status is a free service.