Customs declaration service to become single platform

The customs declaration service (CDS) will serve as the UK’s single customs platform from 31 March 2023.

HMRC will be closing its customs handling of import and export freight (CHIEF) system on that date after which all businesses will need to declare goods through the CDS.

The CDS is currently used for Northern Ireland and rest of world declarations and has already processed more than one million declarations since it went live in 2018.

HMRC states that services on CHIEF will be withdrawn in two stages:

• 30 September 2022: import declarations close on CHIEF.
• 31 March 2023: export declarations close on CHIEF/national exports system (NES).

HMRC has developed the CDS over several years in consultation with the border industry. It is intended to provide a more secure and stable platform with the capacity and capability to grow in line with the government’s trade plans. The move to one system for all