05 January 2021

Q.1 We have serious concerns about the readiness of our customers and their customers. There is a concern about all the paperwork being in place ns in terms of their customers having all the paperwork in place for products of animal origin which is likely to cause supply issues across to Ireland. They have also raised a number of concerns about access to TSS, systems issues and availability and slow response to questions
A. For information on the Export Health Certificate process, traders and exporters should visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-an-export-health-certificate
Useful webinars have been produced covering exports of Animal Products, including guidance on Export Health Certificates which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/webinars-for-exporters-of-animals-and-products-of-animal-origin-to-the-eu 

Q.2 What's the HGV driver C-19 positive rate on lateral flow testing currently?
A. 0.03%

Q.3 Is there a list of approved suppliers and supermarkets who can benefit from the 3 month grace period for SPS movements to NI?
A. Unfortunately, we do not have a published list of traders who have qualified for this scheme. Those who qualified for the scheme were businesses such as supermarkets and their trusted suppliers. Businesses can still receive support for moving goods to NI through the Movement Assistance Scheme.
For more information on the Movement Assistance Scheme please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/movement-assistance-scheme-get-help-with-moving-agrifood-goods-to-northern-ireland
You can contact the Movement Assistance Scheme helpline on: 0330 0416 580. 

Q.4 Is there a GVMS out of hours telephone number in the event GVMS has service issues?
A.HMRC is offering extended and increased capacity on it’s Customs and International Trade Helpline, rather than a helpline specifically for GVMS which is working to design. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/ customs-international-trade-and-excise-enquiries"

Q.5 Can you confirm what the Turnback reasons are?
A.Not having a COVID test or being Border ready

Q.6 Can a ROI haulier take GB product along with ROI products into Switzerland and does the ROI product have to travel on a transit document or an Export Health Certificate. The GB product will have an EHC.
A. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/summary-of-the-uk-switzerland-trade-agreement

Q.7 DEFRA and DAERA have no solution yet on multi collection at multi site groupage model for EHC from GB to NI. As a result multiple loads have not been collected in GB and is starting to impact on the supply chain. When will this be resolved?
A. An update on Group Export Facilitation Scheme (GEFS) is due on Friday 29th January. Guidance will be updated at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-groups-of-products-of-animal-origin-to-the-eu-or-northern-ireland to reflect any changes. 
Please note that the information provided on GOV.UK is constantly being updated to support businesses with accurate and timely information ; any link provided is accurate and up to date at the time of this response. 

Q.8 Is there any update on the issues surrounding the allocation of PBN to unaccompanied freight?
A.We are aware that a proportion of hauliers attempting GB-Ireland crossings over the past few days have not met the requisite Irish Revenue requirements, in particular the Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) and also the requirements for a Safety & Security Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). If hauliers are transporting goods from GB to Ireland using a RoRo ferry service (accompanied or unaccompanied), a Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) must be submitted to Irish Customs-this notification must be submitted in advance of the goods leaving GB. It is the haulier's responsibility to ensure that the PBN is submitted using information provided by the importer however the PBN may be created by anyone in the supply chain that has the required information. Only one PBN should be created per vehicle irrespective of the number of consignments in the vehicle. PBNs are created on Irish Revenue’s Customs RoRo Service. Irish Revenue have advised in order to create a correct PBN, and ensure efficient movement of goods, it is essential that the Movement Reference Numbers (MRN) for each customs declaration for all consignments in a vehicle are included when creating the PBN. Irish Revenue has also set up a dedicated email support service to deal with all PBN related queries at customsPBN@revenue.ie. Irish Revenue put a temporary arrangement in place that allowed for the creation of a PBN for goods movements that began before the end of the transition period (31 December) and ended after that date. This temporary arrangement is no longer available for all sailings departing GB on or after 18:00 hours on 5 January 2021.
Irish Revenue has issued a press release with advice to hauliers and truck drivers moving goods from GB into Irish ports.
Full details are available here: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/press-office/press-releases/2021/pr-010521-advice-hauliers-goods-gb-irish-ports.aspx
A PBN user guide is available here = https://www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/support/documents/help-guides/ros/pbn-user-guide.pdf and video https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/customs-electronic-systems/customs-roro-service/pre-boarding-notification.aspx

Q.9 Do you have to use a customs agent to import pork from Belgium?
A.If you are a UK established company then you may complete the import declarations yourlsef or employ a customs agent. If you are an EU trader then you will need to employ a UK established agent. More advice on importing can be found here- https://www.gov.uk/importing-goods-into-uk 

Q.10 NCTS is not accepting XI EORIs for NI businesses.
A. This issue is under investigation by HMRC. 

Updated Answer
Q.11 HMRC granted 7 day period of grace for a) "in-flight" movements and b) movements where GMR had been presented but failed validation for whatever reason. Given systems only came live hours before BREXIT and people / hauliers are just getting used to completing compliantly and ensuring their systems integrate, is there opportunity to extend the above for another week?
A.For GB – NI movements the 7-day in flight period will come to an end at 00:01 on 8th January. This will mean for all GB-NI movements will require a GMR, successfully validated in order to travel to NI. Comms have already been published to carriers and haulier, and these will be re-published shortly along with support arrangements through the C&IT and TSS helplines. For movements from EU to GB – please note there are different rules, with no deadline as long as the movement started before 11pm on 31st December. Guidance here. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ongoing-customs-movements-and-procedures-at-the-end-of-the-transition-period

Q.12 Hi. Serious issues experienced in Dublin Port over the last few days where operators boarded ferries in GB with PBNs and have been stopped and detained in Dublin port because they have no MRN when it was agreed with Irish authorities that a PBN is all that was required.
A. If you carry goods from GB to Ireland using a RoRo ferry service (accompanied or unaccompanied), a PBN must be submitted to Irish Customs. This notification must be submitted in advance of the goods leaving GB.

• The haulier is responsible for ensuring that the PBN is submitted using information provided by the importer. However, the PBN may be created by anyone in the supply chain that has the required information.
• Only one PBN should be created per vehicle irrespective of the number of consignments in the vehicle.
• Vehicles will not be allowed to board ferries in GB without a valid PBN.

More detail

• PBNs are created on Irish Revenue’s Customs RoRo Service
• Irish Revenue has also set up a dedicated email support service to deal with all PBN related queries at customsPBN@revenue.ie
• Irish Revenue put a temporary arrangement in place that allowed for the creation of a PBN for goods movements that began before the end of the transition period (31 December) and ended after that date. This temporary arrangement is no longer available for all sailings departing GB on or after 18:00 hours on 5 January 2021.
• For your information, Irish Revenue has issued a press release with advice to hauliers and truck drivers moving goods from GB into Irish ports. Full details are available here: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/press-office/press-releases/2021/pr-010521-advice-hauliers-goods-gb-irish-ports.aspx
• A PBN user guide has been added to their website. This is available on https://www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/support/documents/help-guides/ros/pbn-user-guide.pdf

Q.13 Please clarify turn-back comment re Holyhead... no booking systems issues we are aware of?
A. Same answer as Q.8
We are aware that a proportion of hauliers attempting GB-Ireland crossings over the past few days have not met the requisite Irish Revenue requirements, in particular the Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) and also the requirements for a Safety & Security Entry Summary Declaration (ENS). If hauliers are transporting goods from GB to Ireland using a RoRo ferry service (accompanied or unaccompanied), a Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) must be submitted to Irish Customs-this notification must be submitted in advance of the goods leaving GB. It is the haulier's responsibility to ensure that the PBN is submitted using information provided by the importer however the PBN may be created by anyone in the supply chain that has the required information. Only one PBN should be created per vehicle irrespective of the number of consignments in the vehicle. PBNs are created on Irish Revenue’s Customs RoRo Service. Irish Revenue have advised in order to create a correct PBN, and ensure efficient movement of goods, it is essential that the Movement Reference Numbers (MRN) for each customs declaration for all consignments in a vehicle are included when creating the PBN. Irish Revenue has also set up a dedicated email support service to deal with all PBN related queries at customsPBN@revenue.ie. Irish Revenue put a temporary arrangement in place that allowed for the creation of a PBN for goods movements that began before the end of the transition period (31 December) and ended after that date. This temporary arrangement is no longer available for all sailings departing GB on or after 18:00 hours on 5 January 2021.
Irish Revenue has issued a press release with advice to hauliers and truck drivers moving goods from GB into Irish ports.
Full details are available here: https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/press-office/press-releases/2021/pr-010521-advice-hauliers-goods-gb-irish-ports.aspx
A PBN user guide is available here = https://www.revenue.ie/en/online-services/support/documents/help-guides/ros/pbn-user-guide.pdf and video https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/customs-electronic-systems/customs-roro-service/pre-boarding-notification.aspx