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Important: Manston lorry operations to be suspended

From Sunday 21 March, all haulier processing operations, including COVID testing for hauliers, will be suspended at Manston Airport.
If heading to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel, you will be directed straight onto to the M20.
Free COVID testing for hauliers is still available at one of the many Information and Advice sites.
Inland Border Facility checks will continue to be processed by Ashford Sevington or one of the other sites across the country.
You are strongly encouraged to get a negative COVID-19 test, to use the Check an HGV is Ready to Cross the Border service and get a valid Kent Access Permit before arriving in Kent to minimise delays.
Please also follow any traffic management signs.
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Dear all,
The Republic of Ireland Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine held a webinar last week when they explained the full documentation requirements for exporting food products into The Republic.
I understand many of you could not log on due to numbers exceeding the capacity provided.
Below are YouTube recordings of all four presentations which I hope will help those trying to work out what procedures & documents are required.
If you have any problems with logging on or technical issues the contact is: Tom Fabozzi whose e-mail address is Tom.Fabozzi@agriculture.gov.ie

What sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) documents you need to import post-Brexit – a practical guide

A practical guide to documents and pre-notification you need to import animal products post-Brexit

What are the import controls for food of non-animal origin since Brexit? – a guide from the HSE

What are the new food labelling rules since Brexit? – a practical guide from the FSAI

Dear all,
I received the below from Port Health Dover this morning which I forward for your information.
Ensure that you have the correct paperwork to export live animals and animal products to the EU

Brexit Transition Update: Exports

Date: 8th January 2021

Ensure correct paperwork for live animal and animal product health checks at the EU border

Traders must ensure that UK hauliers have the correct paperwork to comply with new animal and animal product checks at the EU border. Traders should take the following steps to obtain the necessary paperwork before exporting goods to EU member states.

Check if you need an Export Health Certificate

Exports of live animals and products of animal origin to the EU require an Export Health Certificate (EHC) signed by an Official Vet (OV) or Food Competent Certifying Officer (FCCO). The original signed EHC must travel with the consignment.

You can check which EHC you need via Defra’s Form Finder and apply online. Full guidance on the EHC process is available on gov.uk. You should ensure that you have found an OV or FCCO who can certify your consignment before you start the application process.

If you cannot find an EHC, you’ll need to contact the competent authority in the EU country you’re exporting to, in advance, to find out what paperwork you’ll need. If the competent authority says that you need an EHC, you’ll need to get their import conditions. Email the conditions to APHA at exports@apha.gov.uk who’ll arrange an EHC for you.

Find the correct Border Control Post for your goods

You must get your animals and animal products checked at an EU BCP. There are more than 400 BCPs in the EU and they’re usually at EU ports and airports. The most frequently used are:

Belgium BCPs
France BCPs
Germany BCPs
Netherlands BCPs
Portugal BCPs
Spain BCPs

You can check the full list of EU BCPs.

Your goods may be refused entry, seized, destroyed or returned to GB if they arrive at:
a port in the EU without a BCP or where checks cannot be carried out
an EU BCP that cannot check your type of animal
an EU BCP without the correct documentation
Give advance notice to the EU Border Control Post (pre-notification)

You’ll need to give EU BCPs advance notice of goods arriving (pre-notify). Check with the BCP you’re planning to use for how much notice is needed.

Contact your import agent in the EU to make sure they notify the BCP through the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) of the arrival of the consignment. They must do this within the time limits set out by the BCP or point of entry.

Comply with new customs requirements

Comply with wider HMRC guidance on customs requirements for exporting to the EU, follow HMRC guidance for moving goods from GB and follow rules on identifying animals, if you want to export them to the EU.

Useful resources:

Trader webinars

View webinars for exporters of animals and products of animal origin to the EU. Follow the links below for:
Export Health Certificate (EHC) and the online service
Products of Animal Origin
Live animals or livestock
Equines
Composite food products
EU guidance

Guidance: Sanitary and phytosanitary controls on goods imported from the UK into EU entering via France – French Ministry for Agriculture and Food

Defra Helplines

Select the most appropriate Helpline for the commodity you are exporting to the EU at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra

We are aware that some members are still experiencing issues with CHIEF requiring a licence for EU originating commodities not considered to be at risk (Stage 1).
The guidance is that CHIEF will accept document status code XW (waiver) against document codes N002 and N851.
So for example for an HMI licence line members should declare; Doc code N002; status code XW; licence reference EU country code followed by licence type CEU; and reason text ‘EU import’.

Government confirms logistics workers are ‘essential’ in latest lockdown

The Department for Transport has confirmed that employees in the sector are considered ‘essential workers’ and accordingly will be allowed to travel for work. In addition, the children of logistics employees will be permitted to attend school along with those of other key workers.

The DfT states that it is considered essential that the work of the logistics sector should continue to the greatest extent possible through the Covid-19 crisis.

“As is clear in the latest guidance, those who work to keep the freight transport modes operating during the coronavirus (COVID-19) response and EU transition, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass, are considered critical workers. This, therefore, includes haulage drivers, managers, warehouse staff and all other logistics professions who we need to continue to go about their business to keep supply chains moving. As such, school age children of employees engaged in these activities should be eligible to continue attending school in line with Government policy.

“Government policy is clear that this applies to all supply chains and not only those for food and medical supplies. The current regulations allows travel to work and travel associated with work.”

Please see a message from HMRC below:

We have been made aware of a number of hauliers being turned back when attempting to board on GB routes into the Republic of Ireland due to them having not completed the necessary steps required by Irish Revenue.

One issue in particular is that some hauliers have not met the Pre-Boarding Notification requirement. A summary of this requirement is:

Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) – Irish Revenue requirement:
Top lines
· If you carry goods from GB to Ireland using a RoRo ferry service (accompanied or unaccompanied), a PBN must be submitted to Irish Customs. This notification must be submitted in advance of the goods leaving GB.
· The haulier is responsible for ensuring that the PBN is submitted using information provided by the importer. However, the PBN may be created by anyone in the supply chain that has the required information.
· Only one PBN should be created per vehicle irrespective of the number of consignments in the vehicle.
· Vehicles will not be allowed to board ferries in GB without a valid PBN.

More detail
· PBNs are created on Irish Revenue’s Customs RoRo Service
· Irish Revenue has also set up a dedicated email support service to deal with all PBN related queries at customsPBN@revenue.ie
· Irish Revenue put a temporary arrangement in place that allowed for the creation of a PBN for goods movements that began before the end of the transition period (31 December) and ended after that date. This temporary arrangement is no longer available for all sailings departing GB on or after 18:00 hours on 5 January 2021.
· For your information, Irish Revenue has issued a press release with advice to hauliers and truck drivers moving goods from GB into Irish ports. Full details are available here: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/press-office/press-releases/2021/pr-010521-advice-hauliers-goods-gb-irish-ports.aspx
· A PBN user guide has been added to their website. This is available on https://www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/support/documents/help-guides/ros/pbn-user-guide.pdf

We also understand that some hauliers have not met the requirements for submitting a Safety & Security Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).

Separately, I also wanted to bring to your attention that the 7 day ‘in flight’ period will come to an end at 00:01 on 8th January and hauliers will need a GMR from this point. It is vital that, from that point, a GMR is completed accurately, and therefore able to be validated, to prevent hauliers from being turned away from check in. Here are some links to pages that may be helpful to your members:

Haulier Advise Sites https://www.gov.uk/guidance/haulier-advice-site-locations,

TSS https://www.tradersupportservice.co.uk/tss,

Webinars https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-for-uk-transition.

We are hearing that France has / is introducing new legislation, requiring that all commercial vehicles over 3.5t show blind spot warning stickers when driving in Urban areas, (See link below )

https://www.europeantrailercare.com/en/from-1-january-2021-blind-spot-stickers-mandatory-in-france/

Furthermore the RHA have TODAY issued the below newsflash.

Newsflash 6362 – 0900hrs

Dear Member,

Happy New Year to those who will have this as their first newsflash of 2021 😉

FRANCE – BLIND SPOT STICKERS – UPDATE

There has been an update to the legislation in relation to the French blind spot sticker requirement. France has recognised that other countries use blind spot stickers to warn cyclist and pedestrians of the ‘disappearing point’ around freight vehicles.

SO, they have relented in the legislation (see yellow below) to say that those vehicles that display stickers used in their national countries are acceptable, although the placement of them still needs to meet the French requirement, minimum of 3, one on each side of the cab and one on rear – ideally on kerb side, but of course others can be added as necessary. If you have lenses or cameras, these are an added bonus but the sticker are still required non the less.

Fines WILL still be imposed on non-compliant vehicles but not until 1 April.

Therefore A) there is no immediate panic to get the stickers fixed, although the advice would be the sooner the better, lest they get forgotten! B) they can be UK stickers

Blind Spots Regulations in France (Decree of application in the JO of 6 January 2021)
With regard to the stickers, Article 55 of the law on mobility guidance requires vehicles over 3.5t to be equipped, as of 1 January 2021, with signs indicating the position of blind spots. The date of entry into force of this provision was set directly by the LOM law. Read more here.

This provision applies to all vehicles on the road with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes, as mentioned in decree n°2020-1396 of 17 November 2020 (including foreign vehicles).

This order is issued in application of the decree in order to define the conditions for affixing and the model of the signage materialising the blind spots to be used on these vehicles.
Article 1 of the decree provides for a transitional period during which “vehicles having been equipped on the sides and at the rear, before 31 March 2021, with a device intended to materialise the presence of blind spots that does not comply with the model set out in the appendix are deemed to comply with the provisions of this decree for a period of 12 months from the publication of this decree”.

Other possibilities for derogations are provided for in Article 4.
Article 1 also indicates that for vehicles, “in particular foreign vehicles”, which carry, on the sides and at the rear, a device intended to materialise the presence of blind spots in application of the legislation of another Member State of the European Union are deemed to comply with the provisions of this order.

With regard to the enforcement, instructions have been given to the control forces to pay particular attention to the explanations provided by companies and drivers during roadside checks and to show pedagogy and tolerance during the first three months of 2021.
Visit our member website https://www.aftri-services.com/ to know more. You can also find Angles mort stickers for sale here.

Source: AFTRI

FRANCE – MONT BLANC TUNNEL CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE – 11th JANUARY

The Mont Blanc Tunnel will be conducting maintenance work on Monday night 11th January between 22:00hrs & 0600hrs.

Traffic will be stopped/held during this period.

On the 6th of January , government issued an updated version of the Border Operating Model, which can be viewed by clicking on the following link https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/949579/December_BordersOPModel__2_.pdf

These changes reflect the new UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and relate to rules of origin requirements, mutual recognition of AEO status etc. From a practical viewpoint there is useful information regarding inland haulier sites and the business model relative to be customs to be operated by individual ports. Also included is some information regarding the 5 inland sites, which are either operational or planned to provide Common Transit Convention functionality. Some of these sites will also be able wet stamping capabilities for ATA carnets and CITES licences.

The documents are issued in a different format to previous editions of the Border Operating Model, it is now split into two halves, the first giving information regarding procedures etc. and the second details case studies shows end-to-end scenarios that will happen between GB and EU for importing and exporting goods from January 2021

The document also covers the next two key dates in the process:-

· April 1st 2021 which sees the imposition of more controls relative to SPS goods
· July 1st 2021 when full border controls are imposed , goods entering the UK will require a Safety and Security declaration and a frontier customs declaration required for all goods entering or leaving the UK which are received from or sent to the EU.

Message from HMRC GVMS Team to Hauliers

As you are aware the Good Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) Registration service went live on 08/12/20 and we shared a link with you, to the Gov.uk pages as per this link Registration

To register, you will need an EORI/UTR numbers and you will also need to input information such as your company name & address details.

If any of the data you supply does not match HMRC records, then your registration may be delayed or even rejected.

One key point is that you must use the same address for your GVMS registration that you have used for any other Government Gateway service enrolment and ensure the address information you provide is accurate.

If you do not , this will cause a delay in your registration application. Common errors with registration applications are:

Company address or office address used only different Government Gateway accounts
Typing errors with address and postcode details – again any slight mis-match will cause a delay in your GVMS registration
If you already hold Government Gateway credentials, to avoid any delays to your registration there are some quick links where you can check your information:

CHECK EORI

Link EORI checker: http://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-eori-number

FIND UTR/ NINO

As an organisation

You will also need your Corporation Tax Unique Tax Reference (UTR). You can find a UTR number (opens in a new window or tab).

Sole trader: Finding Address – this can be found in the Personal Tax Account

Additional general information for Hauliers
Hauliers moving goods for Transit, CITES or Carnets will need to visit an Inland Border Facility before reaching Dover or Eurotunnel. If you’re coming from the North, go to Birmingham or Warrington. Make sure you bring the correct paperwork (T1 and LRN). You must have a negative COVID test. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attending-an-inland-border-facility/attending-an-inland-border-facility

Hauliers moving goods through Dover or Eurotunnel need to go to an Inland Border Facility for Transit, CITES or Carnets. If these don’t apply and you have already made an export declaration, have a Kent Access Permit and a negative COVID result, you can head straight to Dover or Eurotunnel.