FAQs & Resources

UKBF (UK Border Force), Plant Health (DEFRA), Trading Standards and all other government departments have access to your cargos information and can stop it in order to do routine checks and prevent illegal items through ports.

Costs vary depending on the provider and the level of service required. CustomsPro ENS offers a fixed fee solution with no hidden costs, making it a cost-effective option for hauliers.

Common mistakes include missing submission deadlines, incomplete or incorrect information, and failing to amend the ENS when necessary. Using an automated system like CustomsPro ENS can help avoid these issues.

From 31st January 2025, the UK government will strictly enforce the requirement for an ENS declaration for all freight vehicles entering the UK. This includes:

▪Freight Details: Quantity, transport mode, type of goods, materials, etc.

▪Accuracy: The Entry Summary declaration must be complete and accurate.

▪Submission: Declarations must be submitted before arriving at the border. Missing or incorrect declarations could result in fines and potential delays.

Penalties for non-compliance can include financial fines, delays in processing and clearance, and in some cases, the goods may be denied entry into the UK or returned to the point of origin.

The ENS (Entry Summary Declaration) is a pre-arrival notification that provides customs authorities with advance information about goods being imported into the UK. It is required to assess security risks and ensure that goods comply with customs regulations before they enter the country.

Failing to submit the required ENS declaration accurately and on time could possibly lead to several serious consequences:

‼Fines: Financial penalties for non-compliance.

‼Delays: Goods may be stopped or delayed at the UK border, disrupting your supply chain.

‼Operational Inefficiency: Increased waiting times for freight vehicles, which can affect delivery schedules and operational costs.

Missing the ENS submission deadline can result in delays at the border, fines, or even refusal of entry for the goods. It is essential to submit the ENS within the required timeframe to avoid these penalties.

The relevant authorities will engage with carriers when non-compliance has been identified to rectify that position.

The ENS declaration must include details such as the consignor and consignee information, a description of the goods, the number of packages, transport details including the mode of transport and the journey route, and other specific data fields required by customs authorities.

✅There will be 20 mandatory fields that must be completed for all declarations.

✅There will be 8 conditional fields that only need to be completed in certain circumstances.

✅There will be 9 optional fields, to complete or leave blank.

See the fields here: Safety-and-Security-GB-Dataset

The legal requirement is that the entry summary declaration is complete and accurate.

A commodity code is a 10-digit number allocated to goods to classify goods. Every item will fall under a commodity code and this dictates the duty rating. It also informs if there are any import or export restrictions. You can find further information on actual commodity codes here.

An EORI is a unique identifier for importers and exporters in the UK issued by the EORI team at HMRC. It is needed to process import and export declarations for traders. If you do not have an EORI and want to start importing or exporting you will need to obtain an EORI as one of the first things you do. The link to do so is below.

https://www.gov.uk/eori

CustomsPro ENS is a stand-alone service that ensures compliance with the new ENS requirements while saving time and avoiding the stress of last-minute preparations. It also features many of the benefits of the standard CustomsPro product.

ENS stands for Entry Summary Declaration. It’s a pre-arrival security and safety measure required by customs authorities to analyse potential risks associated with goods entering a country. This declaration is separate from other duty and tax obligations but is equally crucial for ensuring the smooth entry of goods. What is ENS and What is Happening on 31st January 2025?

Resources such as the UK government’s official guidelines, customs brokers, and software solutions like CustomsPro ENS can provide detailed guidance and support to ensure compliance.

An ENS declaration must be submitted for every individual consignment entering the UK.   A container or trailer may be carrying 1, 2 or more different consignments – a declaration will be required for each of them. The timing of the submission depends on the mode of transport, with specific deadlines outlined above.