4th March 2019
The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, today (March 4, 2019) urged businesses to make sure they are ready to avail of the customs Transit procedure for moving goods through the UK landbridge post-Brexit.
The Transit procedure allows goods to pass across customs borders with all duties and other charges suspended until arrival at their destination.
In order to avail of the Transit procedure, businesses will need to have a Revenue-approved comprehensive financial guarantee in place. This comprehensive guarantee is required as financial security to cover all potential and actual customs debts such as customs and taxes.
Calling on businesses to contact Revenue about their customs arrangements, Minister Humphreys said: “Businesses that move their goods to or from mainland Europe using the UK landbridge need to be aware that customs procedures will apply to them post-Brexit.
“If a business moves goods through the UK, or sources their supplies or components from mainland Europe via the UK landbridge, they need to put in place a financial guarantee to be in a position to avail of the ‘Transit’ procedure to lessen customs delays and costs.”
The Minister continued: “’Transit’ is a customs procedure that, simply put, will improve the process of moving goods through the UK after Brexit.
“It takes time to put the necessary financial guarantee in place to be able to avail of this procedure though, so whether you’re a cement manufacturer exporting to Germany or a florist whose flowers come from Holland through the UK, I would urge businesses to start consulting with their bank or financial providers and Revenue straight away. Alternatively, businesses can engage a customs agent or logistics company to do so, but either way they need to start the process now.”
With less than four weeks to go to Brexit, the Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen reminded businesses who intend to import or export to the UK post Brexit that they also need a trading number called an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI). An EORI number is already used by any business trading with a non-European Union (EU) country.
Minister Breen said, “A business will need an EORI number for a range of scenarios, including: if they are planning to avail of the customs ‘Transit’ procedure to move their goods through the UK; if they plan to continue to buy stock from the UK; or indeed if they intend to export their manufactured or processed goods to the UK post Brexit.
“About three-quarters of businesses in Ireland that trade with the UK have not yet registered with Revenue for an EORI number, so I would urge businesses to act now and take this necessary step to protect their business from delays and other impacts”, he added.
“It only takes a few minutes to register with Revenue for an EORI number but businesses need to do this urgently if they are to continue trading with the UK post Brexit,” the Minister concluded.
Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan TD said “Businesses from all sectors can seek customs advice and training through the ‘Prepare Your Business for Customs’ workshops, which the Local Enterprise Offices are rolling out. These one-day workshops will provide businesses with an opportunity to understand about potential customs impacts, formalities and procedures they will need to adopt when trading with the UK after this date and help businesses put arrangements in place.”
Businesses can also receive online customs training through Enterprise Ireland’s website to find out more about key customs concepts, documentation and processes, which takes about 45 minutes to complete.
Further information about actions businesses can take now to prepare for Brexit is available on www.dbei.gov.ie
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
Economic Operators Registration and Identification Number (EORI)
Businesses who plan on moving goods into or out of the European Union (EU) via the landbridge or who trade with the UK post-Brexit, will need a unique Economic Operators Registration and Identification or EORI number.
Businesses can register with Revenue for an EORI number to continue trading with the UK after Brexit. This number is valid throughout the EU. Businesses can register for an EORI number through the Revenue website using their Revenue Online Service [ROS] account. www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/services/common/register-for-an-eori-number.aspx
Transit
Transit is a customs procedure that allows goods to be moved across international borders under customs control. A guarantee is required to secure all charges on the goods. For more information visit:
www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/transit/index.aspx
Comprehensive Financial Guarantee
You must have security in place to cover potential or existing customs debt for certain customs procedures or facilities. This security must be in the form of a customs guarantee. A comprehensive guarantee allows you to combine all your current customs bonds and guarantees. You will need an authorisation from Revenue to use a comprehensive guarantee. For more information visit:
www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/comprehensive-guarantee-and-guarantee-waivers/index.aspx
Local Enterprise Offices: Prepare Your Business for Customs workshops
The Local Enterprise Office ‘Prepare Your Business for Customs’ workshops are currently planned for:
Cork (March 8th), Dublin (March 13th) and Laois (March 21st)
Further dates and locations for workshops in every region will be announced shortly.
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) plays a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The Department also has a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.
For more information please contact press.office@dbei.gov.ie or ph: (01) 6312200
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