RESOURCE: WCO/Her Majesty Revenue and Customs
23.04.2020
The Covid-19 outbreak is the biggest public health emergency in a generation. The United
Kingdom (UK) is doing everything it can to tackle the pandemic and mitigate its impact.
The UK has already taken several steps. These include reducing dwell times for shipments
to allow for quicker permission to progress, assessing the need for personnel to be on site if
such functions can be discharged remotely and changes to site opening hours to allow for
greater facilitation.
We have also introduced the use of email in lieu of postal applications for authorisations to
reduce cross contamination and viral spread and we are allowing the use of estimated
figures for the completion of supplementary declarations.
We are advising traders, their agents and relevant government agencies to exchange
documents electronically. This can be by email, fax or digital photograph. Traders may also
apply for their existing authorisations to apply to additional locations. We will also be
publishing online an exhaustive list of government agencies at the border and their email
addresses and contact details.
We have also taken a number of measures in relation to transit movements. These include
goods moving under transit procedures being taken directly to any approved Temporary
Storage Facility even if the facility is not located with a Transit Office of Departure.
Providing relief from import duties (customs and import VAT) for medical equipment to assist
in the fight against Covid-19 has been a key part of the UK response. We have also
activated our disaster relief clearance route to allow for faster clearance through the ports of
goods to combat Covid-19.
The Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses. This
includes enhanced Time to Pay arrangements, £330 billion worth of government-backed and
guaranteed loans and a workers’ support package. VAT registered businesses can also
defer their domestic VAT payments due with their VAT returns between now and the end of
June and will have until the end of the financial year to pay the VAT due.
These changes have been published on the Gov.uk site and we have interacted with trade
bodies to maximise the distribution to businesses across the country. Please follow these
links to the relevant guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-goods-through-customs-during-the-coronavirus-covid19
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/customs-authorisations-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/difficulties-paying-hmrc
Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles transporting essential goods
The UK has notified to a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles transporting essential goods. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 and the purpose of this document is to notify the Commission accordingly. It will apply to those drivers involved in the delivery of food, non-food (personal care and household paper and cleaning) and over the counter pharmaceuticals when undertaking certain journeys in England, Scotland and Wales.
Start date: 18.03.2020
End date: 16.04.2020
Further information: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/temporary-relaxatio...