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Moving goods through customs during the coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Moving goods through customs during the coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Border functions and social distancing To help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have temporarily changed customs border processes. This includes transit and export procedures. This guidance will be updated when this change ends.

Exchanging transit and export documents

Traders, their agents and Border Force staff should exchange documents electronically. This can be by:

  • email
  • fax
  • digital photograph

The information must be legible. You do not need to print documents received in an electronic format.

Documents required by customs officials in EU member states must travel with the goods as a hard copy. These include:

  • Transit Accompanying Documents
  • proof of union status
  • Carnet documents

You should get documents requiring a wet stamp in the usual way, unless you have agreed alternate procedures.

You must provide hard copies of licenses and other documents to the appropriate importer or exporter, by post if necessary. These should be retained in the normal way.

Export Approvals

Traders may apply for permission to extend that authorisation to additional locations, if they are authorised to use:

  • Designated Export Places
  • Customs Supervised Exports
  • Local Clearance Procedures

This will allow you to request ‘permission to progress’ without first needing the goods to be located at the premises set out in your approval.

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