Navigating the post-Brexit landscape is no small feat, especially when it comes to border processes. As the UK continues to refine its customs and trade operations, significant changes are on the horizon. To help businesses stay ahead of the curve, Kukla UK talked with David Richardson, Regulatory & Commercial Affairs Director at the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA). He provided crucial insights into what’s coming down the track, from streamlined customs procedures to potential risks and opportunities for industry input.
Note: In the headline, David Richardson’s responses have been edited for conciseness while maintaining the core message.
Chris Porter: How are border processes expected to change post-Brexit, and what is the timeline for these changes?
David: Border processes are going through a period of significant change, building on the post-Brexit position. The direction of travel is very welcome and should ultimately give traders a much easier operating environment. The journey to that will be a little more demanding, as new software will need to be introduced; the changes will be incremental, and our best guess is that we will not get to a state of ‘business as usual’ until about 2028. There will be significant implementation and training needs for some time to come.
What are the key changes that businesses should prepare for in the new customs environment?
David: The main changes to expect are the rationalisation of 42 customs authorisations into five ‘families,’ the introduction of a single electronic portal to apply for customs authorisations and the digitisation of excise and inland holding and movement processes. The Single Trade Window will accompany this as the main gateway to border service and more self-service options.
There will be the ability to choose from a menu of possible applications, while inputting key business data only once. There will be a greater emphasis on self-service options, revised and liberalised guarantee processes, the abolition of duty stamps and possibly the abolition of WOWGR.
The guidance on gov.uk for general users will be extensively revised, with a single collection of guidance for alcohol and will include extended technical manuals aimed at expert users.
What risks do businesses face with the divergence from EU processes, and how could this impact their operations?
David: The risks of divergence from EU processes remain, as these create the need for separate EU SKUs, with consequential costs and difficulties in switching stock between markets.
How is the WSTA involved in shaping these changes, and what opportunities are there for businesses to influence the future of border processes?
David: The WSTA is engaged with HMRC and its members on all these issues. There is a demand from HMRC for user research and testing in private beta environments, and we are encouraging businesses to take these opportunities to help shape the look, feel and function of border processes for the next generation.
Thank you, David, for taking the time to speak with us. Your engagement with Kukla News is invaluable.
