Dartford-based Europa Road has launched a new customs product designed to minimise post-Brexit transit time delays.
The new product, dubbed EuropaFlow, is designed to circumvent any delays that could be created by the need to contact importers prior to delivery, to agree terms, and collect VAT and duty prior to delivery.
The process sees Europa Road, which is a division of Europa Worldwide, acting as an EU global VAT representative for its customers, zero rating EU import VAT and billing duty and fees back to the UK party.
The company says that these services combined with the use of frontier declarations, will ensure clearance occurs whilst the goods cross the channel. By the time they arrive on the other side, they are free to deliver.
To deliver the service Europa has created two strategically located customs brokerage businesses known as 'Frictionless Trade Services' in Lille, France as well as Oostende in Belgium. These are in addition to the UK team in Dartford.
These operations will manage export and import declarations and all of the associated work required to facilitate the product.
Europa is currently recruiting for additional customs supervisors and declarants across all its sites as it gears up for Brexit. It plans to employ a total of 45 staff on the EuropaFlow team.
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Sales director Dionne Redpath, who oversees EuropaFlow said: “There are lots of ways to deal with export and import from 1 January but we’ve looked at every scenario and we believe that this is the best way to preserve the flow of goods and achieve the same transit times we offer today.
“We believe our simple approach will give British businesses everything required for a successful start to 2021.”
Andrew Baxter, MD of Europa Worldwide Group added. “The Brexit transition period is quickly coming to an end. Soon all goods travelling between the UK and the EU will need to go through a customs process.
“By using this product our customers will be in the strongest position - we have devised a solution to keep goods moving without friction. Whilst we can't prevent physical customs checks we can remove every other barrier that delays goods.”
This is the latest in a series of investments Europa has made since the EU referendum to ensure its business and its customers are Brexit-ready.
Last year Europa invested over £2m in its Dartford transit warehouse to increase racking capacity by 75%, as well as spending a further £2m on consultants, marketing and IT. It has also supported customers by providing Brexit workshops across the UK.
Europa Road operates 13 UK branches which trunk into Europa’s Dartford One Hub, from which freight connects with daily, direct services to 30 continental hubs.
The company transports over 45,000 consignments through its road network, making over 2,000 collections and deliveries every day.
