Business West urges firms to prepare customs declarations as 1st January approaches

With 50 days to go until the end of the Brexit transition period, Business West is urging companies to get prepared or risk delays and costs further down the line.

Following Brexit, the National Audit Office (NAO) estimates that Customs Declarations could increase from the current volume of 55 million up to 255 million. 

If you do not have a broker or agent organised for the transition yet, there is still time, but it may be that capacity runs out as we get closer to the New Year. 

Our ChamberCustoms service will allow businesses to declare goods efficiently, helping you avoid delays at the border. 

We also have customs declaration training available to help you understand how to complete the documentation correctly.

As an accredited Chamber of Commerce, with years of experience in international trade and as a trusted partner of HMRC, we know the importance of compliance and having the correct documentation in place before exporting or importing. 

Ian Mean, Director of Business West for Gloucestershire spoke to Catherine Stephens, Head of International Trade Services about what businesses can do now to adequately prepare.

Catherine said: “When we get to the end of the transition period, all traders, both importers and exporters will have to complete a proper export or import declaration for their goods going overseas or coming from the EU.

“It’s very important businesses act now… many companies who haven’t engaged with a customs broker will find that if they speak to a customs broker or agent now there is no resource left. 

“Speak to us about our ChamberCustoms service because you don’t want to be in a position where on January 1st you’re trying to import or export your goods and suddenly they will be stuck at the border because you haven’t got your paperwork in place.

“There’s still time, we’ve got just under a couple of months so we can still get you onboarded onto our system. It’s so important that traders get this sorted before the end of the year.”