‘Good plans mean good delivery’
FROM JANUARY 1, 2022, BUSINESSES MOVING GOODS INTO GREAT BRITAIN FROM THE EU MUST SUBMIT CUSTOMS DECLARATIONS BY THE TIME THEY REACH THE BORDER INTO GREAT BRITAIN
Since January 1, 2021, businesses have been able to delay import declarations for up to 175 days from when the goods arrived in the country. However, from January 1, 2022 full declarations must be made at the time of importing and can no longer be delayed.
Stoke-on-trent based Beyond Wines Ltd launched in 2020, and supports a team of five who manage a portfolio of wines from Italy, France, Romania and Austria. Its first pillar brand, Liquid Diamond, is the first wine to use emojis as tasting notes.
Supply chain manager Nick Mcgregor explains how the business is organised ahead of the new rules: “We are prepared and understand the additional requirements. We’ve worked with our suppliers and partners to ensure everything runs smoothly.”
And he is keen to stress the importance of the right partnerships: “Ensuring we made use of experts in the field, including a freight forwarder, has provided us with a complete end-to-end supply chain and ensured the transition was as smooth as possible.” Many businesses will use simplified declarations for imports, but Beyond Wines already provides full customs declarations via its freight partners.
“The new rules mean that delayed declarations will no longer be allowed, although as a wine importer we’ve already had to put systems in place to manage this,” adds Nick.
So what advice would he offer to other businesses? “Make sure you do your research so you don’t get caught out – gov.uk is a great starting point,” he says.
“Also, reach out to businesses or individuals who are experts in the area if you are unsure. Don’t be afraid to ask, as it’s in your interests to get things right from the start.”