Friday, October 13, 2017

BIFA Urges Freight Forwarders to Comment on Brexit Skills Gaps

Concerns that Future European Customs Requirements May Thwart Trade
Shipping News Feature
UK – Members of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) are being urged to take part in a short survey designed to gain a better understanding of the scale of potential Customs procedure training that will be required post-Brexit within the freight forwarding sector.

The organisation, which represents many members of the British logistics community, is assisting the HMRC’s Customs EU Exit Policy Team, which is concerned about the lack of Customs entry procedure knowledge should there be a need to complete formal Customs declarations post-Brexit for shipments to the EU.

The results from the survey – which only has six questions – will enable BIFA to communicate its results back to the Customs EU Exit Policy Team and also lobby any concerns to the key decision makers on behalf of the trade association's members. BIFA's Director General, Robert Keen said:

“Our members and the companies they serve are worried about administrative costs for new procedures such as filing Customs declarations, unexpected delays from new checks and such things as damage to 'just-in-time processes' involving rapid imports of components.

“Despite the ongoing uncertainties over the path that Brexit will eventually take, surveys such as this are one thing we can do to help prepare for the future.”

The survey can be found HERE and will run until Friday 27th October.