www.getreadyforbrexit.eu – For access of cargo to the UK, the UK government now uses two different models: temporary storage and pre-lodgement. As a carrier, you need to know in advance which access model applies to your cargo. Pre-lodgement requires emphatic action on your part before your driver drives to the ferry terminal. Therefore, ask carefully which model applies to each shipment. Unnecessary delays at the Dutch ferry terminal and at the British border can thus be avoided.

When temporary storage, when pre-lodgement?
The British ports served by the Dutch ferry operators allow both access models. Check this schedule for each ferry operator to see when temporary storage applies to your cargo and when pre-lodgement. Caution! A wrong choice in the model can usually not be corrected after arrival at the Dutch ferry terminals. The shipment then automatically falls into the temporary storage model.

Temporary storage: no prior action required
Cargo entering the UK under temporary storage can be stored in a temporary storage facility (usually the terminal) for up to 90 days at the border. No separate action is required before your driver leaves for the Dutch ferry terminal. After declaration by the UK importer or his representative to UK Customs, the goods travel on to their final destination.

Pre-lodgement: action first, then drive
With pre-lodgement, the UK importer or his representative makes the declaration even before the ferry leaves the Netherlands. Carrier on the Dutch side beware! Before the driver drives to the ferry terminal, you must first do the following in the UK Goods Vehicle Management Service (GMVS):

• In GVMS, you link the import declaration made in the UK to your trailer. You do this using the MRN(s) transmitted to you by the UK importer or his representative.
• You enter the Goods Movement Reference (GMR) that GVMS then generates with your ferry booking. Only if the ferry terminal has the GMR when your trailer arrives will your cargo be able to proceed without delay.

Read here how to obtain a GMR for each shipment

One-time registration in GVMS
To be able to use GVMS for pre-lodgement shipments, you as a carrier register once with the UK government.

Helpful help for proper use of GVMS
The UK government offers several handy inputs to help you get started for GVMS:

• Abridged instruction on GVMS
• Instruction Gov.uk on the most common mistakes in GVMS (February 2022)
• 2nd edition of the GVMS guide (February 2022, English)

UK inspection yes or no
On arrival in the UK, GVMS cargo can generally proceed immediately. Alternatively, the driver may be referred to an Inland Border Facility (IBF) for inspection. Before arriving in the UK, check whether this applies to your cargo via this handy UK government website. Filling in your cargo’s GMR is all you need to do. One click and you know where you stand. If inspection is indeed required, the website, available in 12 languages, will also help you on your way.

www.getreadyforbrexit.eu – The United Kingdom (UK) has postponed the introduction of customs rules announced for 1 July 2022 and beyond. In concrete terms, this means that for the time being, businesses do NOT need to prepare for:

• Mandatory security declarations for all cargo – ENS
• Certification for most veterinary and phytosanitary cargo
• Checks on this veterinary and phytosanitary cargo at Border Control Posts
• Certification and checks for all dairy products
• Certification and checks for all remaining veterinary cargo

The UK government has announced its intention to publish a new regime for import controls in autumn 2022. This will be done in a Target Operating Model. Following this, a start will be made with the implementation at the end of 2023.

You can read the official statement of the British government about the postponement here. A translation of this information for the business community can be found on rvo.nl.

Please note! All existing customs regulations in the UK remain in force.

www.getreadyforbrexit.eu – For cargo that you are transporting to the UK conform the pre-lodgement model, you as a transporter must always take action before you proceed to the Dutch ferry terminal. This is what you need to do:

• In the British Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), you must link the declaration made in the UK to your trailer. You do this using the MRN(s) provided to you by the UK importer or their representative.
• You specify the Goods Movement Reference (GMR) that is subsequently generated by GVMS when you make your ferry booking. Only if the ferry terminal has the GMR when your trailer arrives can your cargo continue without delay following its arrival in the UK.

Read here how you can obtain a GMR for each shipment 

One-time registration in GVMS
In order to be able to use GVMS for pre-lodgement shipments, you must submit a one-time registration as a carrier with the British government.

Convenient help for proper use GVMS
The British government offers various convenient manners to help you on your way with GVMS.

• Condensed instruction on GVMS
• Instruction Gov.uk on the most commonly made mistakes in GVMS (February 2022)
• 2nd edition of the GVMS guide (February 2022)
• step-by-step user guide for GVMS
• Or watch the accompanying webinar on GVMS (in English)
  

Inspection in the UK yes or no
Before arriving in the UK, you can easily check whether your cargo is subject to inspection via this convenient website of the UK government. All you need to do is fill in the GMR of your cargo. One click and you know where you stand. If inspection is indeed required, the website, which is available in thirteen languages, will also help you on your way.

www.getreadyforbrexit.eu – As of the 1st of July 2022, the British government requires a health certificate (veterinary) or phytosanitary certificate (plant products) for most of the veterinary and phytosanitary cargo that enters the UK. From that date on, these cargo types will also be inspected at the British border. The implementation comprises 3 steps:

1 July 2022: Certification + inspection most veterinary and phytosanitary cargo
This entails:

• All other regulated animal by-products
• All regulated plants and plant products (including floriculture)
• Meat and meat products
• Biological products

1 September 2022: Certification + inspection all dairy products
1 November 2022: Certification + inspection all remaining veterinary cargo

In the Netherlands, certification is performed by the NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) and the various inspection services. Due to the large cargo flows that are bound for the UK, an operational approach with a minimal impact on logistics has been developed in consultation with the business community. As a precondition for this, it however is imperative that the relevant business community prepares properly. Now is the time to spring into action! The NVWA expects that parties that still have to start preparing after the 1st of April will be too late to catch the proverbial ‘early boat’ as of the 1st of July.

Certification procedure
In order to smoothly obtain export certificates, the government places many actions and responsibilities with the business community itself. Every company must comply with an extensive protocol for this. This protocol must be agreed upon and recorded with the NVWA or the relevant inspection service before the 1st of July. For phytosanitary cargo, a training course for company employees is involved as well.

Strictly operating according to protocol
Every company must be ready to operate according to the agreed-upon protocol by the 1st of July. Those who are not, will have to join the queue. It is essential that companies strictly adhere to the protocols. Otherwise, the government, from their responsibility for issuing export certificates, may impose additional requirements that guarantee correct operations, but hinder smooth handling.

More info
Many details about the forthcoming implementation of health and phytosanitary certificates, border controls, etc. are currently still being discussed by the European Union, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Thewebsite of the NVWA always features up-to-date information.

www.getreadyforbrexit.eu – Since the 1st of January 2022, import declarations can be submitted to British Customs via two different models: Pre-lodgement and Temporary storage. The main features of both models:

Pre-lodgement

In the pre-lodgement model, parties already submit their customs declarations before goods are taken on board in the EU. The carrier next links these declaration(s) to a specific trailer via the British Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS). The carrier uses the ensuing Goods Movement Reference (GMR) to gain access to the Dutch ferry terminal. With help of the GMR, the goods can usually immediately proceed upon arrival in the British port.

Temporary storage

Goods entering the UK under the temporary storage model may be stored at a temporary storage facility at the border for up to 90 days. After having been declared to British Customs, the goods next travel on to their final destination in the United Kingdom.

How do the ferry operators apply this

Each ferry operator/terminal in the UK decides for itself which model it chooses to use. The ferry operators active in the Netherlands do this as follows:

View access models to British ports Dutch ferry operators (subject to change)

Want to know more?