The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has announced it launching a new online training course to help prepare its members and others to operate HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Customs Declaration Service (CDS).
UK Haulier reports that CDS is due to replace Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) in a phased transition ending in April 2023, and the training course will provide hands-on tuition, practical exercises and a technical resource that concludes with an assessment.
BIFA Director General, Robert Keen said: “BIFA has taken the initiative in regards to creating a relevant training course that will help our members understand and implement the different working methods involved with the new system.”
BIFA’s CDS eLearning course is for anyone completing Customs declarations and covers the differences between CHIEF and CDS to allow users to submit customs declarations for exports and imports via the new system no matter what software is being used.
BIFA’s course has been developed in conjunction with Agency Sector Management (UK) Ltd (ASM), a leading software provider to the UK Customs clearance and freight forwarding industries that also represents the interests of the freight forwarding community through advocacy activities.
The course is made up of eight modules, comprising of an introduction to CDS and the data elements needed, and the UK Trade Tariff and customs procedure codes. Further modules include commercial relationships, arrangements and valuation, methods of payment and authorisations, as well as documents, certifications and authorisations indicators.
Simulation exercises and an assessment will enable all delegates to check their knowledge and understanding about future import and export declaration processes, putting into practice what they have learnt on each module.
Keen concludes: “This course will be available from September 2021. Whilst dual-running of both systems will continue, we know enough about the new CDS system to be confident in offering a training course to BIFA members and others that will provide cost-effective and invaluable advice and information.”
If you’re looking for a UK freight forwarder, talk to us today.
