Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1295506
5 NEWS 8.10.2020 THE Customs Department has issued brief guidelines on procedures to be followed at the end of the transitional period of the United Kingdom's with- drawal from the European Union. General cargo, parcels and express freight In the event of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union without a deal, the Customs Depart- ment will, essentially, extend its cur- rent procedures relating to goods im- ported from and exported to non-EU countries, also from and to the United Kingdom. In practical terms, all imports from and exports to the United Kingdom have to be covered by Customs for- malities. This means that these consignments have to be covered by a Customs dec- laration, where all the associated du- ties and other relevant taxes such as VAT and excise have to be paid prior to releasing the goods for free circula- tion within the EU. The procedure will be the same as that currently employed (for example) for imports or exports to the United States, Japan or any other third coun- try to the EU. This also includes imports and ex- ports of parcels by post and by fast parcel operators. For example, an importation of (new or used) cars will be subject to 10% duty and 18% vat, while a consign- ment of clothing will be subject to 12% duty and 18% vat. A consignment of rubber tyres would be subject to 4.5% duty, 18% vat and 70 cents / kilo- gramme excise duty. Industry The local industry that sources raw material from the United Kingdom for further processing and eventual export, can benefit from reliefs from import duties by applying for an im- port authorisation under the Inward Processing procedure (subject to ful- filling the relevant conditions). Risk-based approach The Department will adopt a risk- based approach over consignments originating from or destined to the United Kingdom. is will be fully in line with the cur- rent approach implemented by the De- partment over the movement of goods, from and to, other third countries. Passenger traffic Inbound passengers from the Unit- ed Kingdom can no longer make use of the EU channel (aka the blue channel) but have to choose between either the green channel if they have nothing to declare or the red channel if they have goods to declare. Possible preparations from the trade sector • EORI Number The Customs Department is again, calling on those economic operators who either solely trade with the Unit- ed Kingdom, or who trade exclusively with the United Kingdom and the Eu- ropean Union, to register and obtain an Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI) number to be able to lodge declarations for their imports and exports. Economic oper- ators can iniate the EORI registration process by sending an e-mail to: eori. customs@gov.mt. Further details may be obtained through the following link- https:// customs.gov.mt/bus/economic-oper- ators-registration-identification • Authorised Economic Operator The Customs Department would also like to encourage economic oper- ators to apply for an Authorised Eco- nomic Operator (AEO) status. There are several trade facilitation incentives that AEOs can benefit from. Additional information can be found on the Customs Department's web- site – www.customs.gov.mt under the 'Businesses and Trade' tab, 'Author- ised Economic Operators' tab. Training While training on use of the Nation- al Import System, and the National Export System has already been de- livered, the Customs Department remains available to offer training to those who request it. The Customs Department would like to renew its offer to those economic operators who either solely trade with the United Kingdom, or who trade exclusively with the United Kingdom and the European Union. Applications in this regard, should be forwarded by e-mail to the Cus- toms Training Unit on customs.train- ing@gov.mt. On-line payment Economic operators can now make use of the Department's on-line pay- ment system for import declarations. This will reduce the queues at the De- partment's cash points consequently expediting the release of cargo. More Information All detailed information associated with BREXIT and its effect on Cus- toms procedures can be found on the Customs Department's website – www.customs.gov.mt under the 'Busi- nesses and Trade' tab, 'BREXIT for Business' tab. Any additional enquiries can be re- layed to the Customer Services office e-mail frontoffice.customs@gov.mt or telephone numbers 25685120/3/8. Customs issues procedural guidelines in case UK, EU Brexit deal remains elusive