Brexit: Do we have a decision?
The original exit date at the end of March may have been postponed, but there is still the possibility that the UK will leave the European Union without an exit deal. “Keep calm and be prepared” is the motto that companies should follow when it comes to logistics and the current Brexit situation.
Despite being set several years ago, Britain’s scheduled departure date of March 29, 2019 has proved meaningless. But the new date for a hard Brexit could be as soon as April 12. Politicians are currently discussing and debating intensively, but a final decision is still pending.
The consequences of leaving without a deal are known, especially when it comes to the movement of goods to and from the UK. First and foremost, we can expect longer waiting times due to border controls and customs clearance for all goods in accordance with WTO rules. So as things stand, companies must continue to prepare for all eventualities (see also https://www.dachser.com/en/mediaroom/Brexit-Times-almost-up-986 for more information).
Worst-case scenario: Temporary storage of goods
One of the most important steps is to examine the logistics chain in detail and consolidate shipments to and from the UK wherever possible. It may also be necessary to hold safety stocks in order to bridge waiting times in the future. In a worst-case scenario, goods may have to be held back at the point of departure and, depending on capacity, temporarily stored by DACHSER or the sender.
Make sure that these documents contain the following information: Sender incl. EORI number, recipient incl. contact details, consecutive invoice number, Incoterms, number and type of packages, description of goods, country of origin, TARIC code, value of goods, currency, gross/net weight.
Preparations for customs clearance remain the top priority. The basic requirements for this are EORI (Economic Operators’ Registration and Identification) numbers, product classifications for the goods being transported, and the provision of commercial invoices. For DACHSER to complete customs clearance as quickly as possible for its customers, it requires information about the recipient and their point of contact for customs matters. If they haven’t done so already, DACHSER customers should get in touch with their contact partner at DACHSER now.
At a glance: Preparing shipments in the event of a hard Brexit
In the event of a hard Brexit, the following information must be provided for customs clearance before the goods are picked up:
• Consignment note
• Commercial invoice / pro forma invoice
• Packing list / delivery note
• Export accompanying document (we can issue this if necessary)
• Preference documents and other documents specific to the goods, if required
Make sure that these documents contain the following information:
Sender incl. EORI number, recipient incl. contact details, consecutive invoice number, Incoterms, number and type of packages, description of goods, country of origin, TARIC code, value of goods, currency, gross/net weight.
If the documents are provided to us in electronic form, they should have a resolution of 300dpi if possible.
Your contact at Dachser will be happy to provide you with further information. They can also give you a detailed checklist with all the information you need to know about goods transportation in the event of a hard Brexit.
