Successful engagement between Revenue and business allows for ending of temporary ENS easement

In the immediate days after 1 January 2021, and arising from extensive engagement with business and trade, Revenue identified a particular challenge for some businesses in relation to the completion of Safety and Security (ENS) declarations. These declarations are a requirement for imported goods under the Union Customs Code (UCC).

Once identified, Revenue put in place a temporary administrative easement measure on 7 January 2021 for lodging ENS declarations in respect of Roll-On, Roll-Off (RoRo) goods movements between Ireland and Great Britain. Take-up of this temporary easement was a signal to Revenue that a business needed support. Revenue put a dedicated team in place to assist and collaborate with the businesses concerned to address their difficulties in lodging ENS declarations, while also ensuring completion of necessary Customs formalities.

To date, this team has dealt with over 3,500 email contacts, and worked successfully with some 750 businesses. This approach ensured the continued movement of goods for the relevant businesses and traders when they would otherwise have experienced delays. Additionally, this approach also enabled the businesses to build capability and put the necessary processes in place so that they can now correctly complete ENS declarations into the future.

Following this successful collaboration, the businesses concerned now have the skills, experience and information to be able to fully meet the relevant UCC requirements regarding the Safety and Security (ENS) declaration, when importing goods into Ireland. In light of this, Revenue today (2/6/2021), announced that the operation of the temporary easement will end with effect from 5pm on 23 June 2021.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Joe McBride, Head of Customs Operations and Trade Facilitation at Dublin Airport, with responsibility for the management of the administrative easement, explained that:

“Over the last 5 months our dedicated support team has assisted some 750 businesses in lodging their safety & security ENS declarations which facilitated the continued movement of their goods. Importantly, this period of support has also enabled these businesses to build their capability, gather the necessary information from within the supply chain and put processes in place to complete their own ENS declarations into the future. We are confident given the interactions with, and feedback from, the businesses concerned that the temporary easement measure has achieved its objective. On that basis, this temporary administrative easement will end on Wednesday, 23 June.”

Mr. McBride reassured businesses of Revenue’s continued support for those that may experience difficulties with any aspect of import or export procedures:

“The implementation of this temporary easement measure is one example of the wide range of supports that Revenue has provided to businesses since 1 January 2021 to address the challenges created by the UK’s departure from the EU. While this ENS related easement is coming to an end, Revenue remains fully committed to working with businesses to address any specific challenges they face and in the context of facilitating the efficient flow of legitimate trade. Our officers are available 24 hours a day, every day, at our main points of importation in Dublin Port, Rosslare Port and Dublin Airport. In addition, our Customs helpline can also be contacted on a 24/7 basis on 01 7383685.”

[Ends 02/06/2021]