HMRC are developing a new electronic customs declarations system called the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) in order to accommodate all procedure and process changes to the EU legislation brought by the Union Customs Code.
We have prepared a document will help you prepare for the change to help avoid disruptions and delays.
Download the Customs Declaration Service Information Sheet >>
The customs handling of import and export freight system (CHIEF) has been in use for nearly 30 years, and HMRC has eventually announced its retirement: for imports on 30 Sept 2022, and exports in March 2023.
The new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) that’s replacing it is fundamentally different to CHIEF. Unless you make your own declarations, you won’t need additional software for full access to the CDS, but many businesses, including those that use a customs intermediary, such as a freight forwarder or customs broker, will need to make customs declarations on their behalf will need to prepare for the change.
From 1st October, HMRC is moving from paper-based rules on CHIEF, to data processing rules on CDS and CHIEF will no longer accept import declarations. Export declarations will no longer be accepted via CHIEF and the National Export System (NES) from the 31st March 2023.