UK Export - The Need for Transit

From 1 January 2021, transit will be required where goods enter and pass through the EU before entry into the UK, e.g. a shipment from Switzerland travelling through France.  It will also apply to a high percentage of goods leaving the UK for EU Member States other than France.  Exporters should make the necessary arrangements now.

All exports to the EU via the Channel Tunnel or Dover will need to be declared via HMRC’s declaration system CHIEF (Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight).

All transit movements, which will be 90%+ of all exports, will need to be declared via NCTS (New Computerised Transit System).

Transit movements need to be made available for potential inspection prior to shipment. More importantly, this will need to be covered by a transit guarantee.

Transit can begin at either:

• A customs office of departure.

• An approved location under the Authorised Consignor arrangements.

A customs office of departure can either be the:

• Port of departure.

• An approved premises linked to the port of departure, such as a customs warehouse or temporary storage facility.

An Authourised Consignor approval can either be held by the exporter themselves or they can utilise their haulier’s or their customs broker’s.