ASM calls on HMRC to provide full details on new Safety & Security declarations

Agency Sector Management (ASM) is warning that a failure by the new UK government to communicate details on new Safety & Security Entry Summary declarations will impact software providers’ ability to deliver the required functionality by the October deadline.

“We are working to integrate Safety & Security functionality into our software, as required by HMRC; however, we have a lot of technical questions outstanding, and the clock is ticking,” said Simon Adams, Program Manager at ASM.

“The 31 October deadline was challenging to begin with, given the huge volume of system changes we’ve had to deal with in 2024, but a lack of information and clarification from HMRC will certainly affect our ability to deliver Safety & Security functionality by the published deadline.”

Currently, the UK applies a waiver for goods coming from the EU from Safety & Security Entry Summary (ENS) declarations, but, as part of post-Brexit arrangements set out in the Border Target Operating Model, this will change from the end of October 2024.

ASM aims to support the requirement for Safety & Security ENS declarations for GB imports in its Sequoia software, which is designed to facilitate UK Customs clearance. The service will be free of charge to existing ASM customers.

ASM customers will be able to create, transmit, and amend ENS declarations in Sequoia. While the functionality is primarily aimed at road importers, it will be available for all import job modes (air, ocean, and road) and extend beyond imports from the EU.

“We have been informed that the new Government will provide an update as soon as possible on the plans for Safety & Security requirements, but with just seven weeks to go before the implementation date, we need this information now to deliver the functionality needed to comply with the new regulations,” said Adams.