Pre-notification, Common Transit Agreement (CTC), Temporary Admission (ATA) and Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) are the four ways in which goods can be transported across borders. The operator must choose which of these four to adopt based on the characteristics of the goods. After the finalisation of Brexit, the United Kingdom no longer forms part of the European Union (EU), therefore, there is no free trade between the member countries and Great Britain and goods transport by road between the two parties is subject to the cross-border regulations.
So what is the process to enter Great Britain based on each option?
Pre-notification
What documentation do I need before leaving the EU?
When picking up the goods, the haulier must have all the information and pertinent documents, as customs will have to confirm that the operator has completed the EU export procedures, as well as the import procedures of the United Kingdom.
Until 1 July 2021, customs requirements are different for controlled and non-controlled goods. In the first case, the customs declarations are required for all, while in the second, the importer can make a record in their own commercial records and then follow with a supplementary declaration that must be presented in the British customs service within six months of the point of import.
Exit summary declarations (EXS) are required for goods that leave the EU. Trade with Great Britain is governed by the same rules as with all other non-member countries, as such safety and security declarations must be presented.
What documentation will I be required to show at the EU border?
The driver needs proof of the customs declarations of the traders (both from the EU as well as from the United Kingdom) for each shipment. These can be:
- A Master Reference Number (MRN) such as the entry number in the United Kingdom.
- The trader’s Economic Operator Registry and Identification (EORI) number if the importer from the United Kingdom makes the declaration in their own records.
- The MRN of the EU export declaration.
What documentation will I be asked to show at the border with the United Kingdom?
Although British authorities do not stop every vehicle to check the customs documentation, they may carry out safety controls. If this is the case, they will ask the driver for the MRN and/or EORI of each shipment, together with the documentation or information that they deem necessary.
Common Transit Convention (CTC)
What documentation do I need before leaving the EU?
The trader must provide the following to the haulier:
- A Transit Accompaniment Document (TAD) and the notification that the movement has been authorised to continue with the transit procedure outside of the EU.
- A Local Reference Number (LRN) or a TAD that has not been released to the transit process, as such they must present the goods and the LRN or TAD in an departure office designated by the EU, where they will authorise the goods and provide the driver with a TAD.
The exporter or agent is responsible for updating the transport company and driver about the TAD status.
What documentation will I be required to show at the EU border?
As part of the CTC agreement, EU customs authorities will request the TAD from the haulier.
What documentation will I be asked to show at the border with the United Kingdom?
To complete the transit movement upon entering Great Britain, transport companies who choose the CTC can follow the process on paper or the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS); this will depend on where the goods will arrive.
The driver must have an MRN TAD for each shipment. The reference numbers confirm that they have the correct declaration to move the goods in transit.
Transport companies must use the GVMS (through a direct linked from their own system or through the online service on gov.uk) to link all the TAD reference numbers to a Goods Movement Reference (GMR) for each trailer movement.
In each operation, the GMR must be updated with the correct VRN (accompanied movements) or TRN (unaccompanied movements). Drivers cannot board international ferries or the Eurotunnel without a complete GMR.
ATA Agreement
What documentation do I need before leaving the EU?
If the trader chooses the ATA Agreement to carry out the operation, they must provide the driver the ATA carnet document.
What documentation will I be required to show at the EU border?
The haulier must present the ATA carnet and ensure that it is stamped by the authorities in accordance with the procedures of the EU.
What documentation will I be asked to show at the border with the United Kingdom?
The driver must follow the local procedures regarding the presentation of an ATA carnet.
TIR Convention
What documentation do I need before leaving the EU?
In the case of transporting goods based on the TIR Convention, the haulier must hold an authorisation obtained in their country, and the vehicle must be equipped with an approval certificate of a road vehicle under customs seal.
The transport company is responsible for:
- Providing the TIR carnet to the driver.
- Ensuring that the arrangements to declare the movement to the EU Transit System (NCTS) and having the reference numbers to present the goods to the customs authorities of the United Kingdom.
- Instructing the driver to take and present the goods and the TIR carnet to the customs authorities in an EU office of departure.
What documentation will I be required to show at the EU border?
The driver must present the TIR card and make sure it is stamped by the EU customs authorities.
What documentation will I be asked to show at the border with the United Kingdom?
The driver must follow the local port procedures regarding the presentation of the TIR carnet. The customs department will review the document and stamp, and will stamp the corresponding page of the carnet and detach it.
After that, the haulier can go to the customs office of destination or to the TIR authorised consignee’s premises to unload the goods.
It is possible that the customs border office performs TIR procedures upon entry and destination.
When the vehicle has completed the trip, the driver must return the TIR carnet to their office/manager.
