The Countdown to ENS Compliance: A Week By Week Guide For Preparation
With just a few months until the new Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) requirements come into force on 31st January 2025, European hauliers importing into the UK must act now to ensure compliance and avoid costly delays. The new legislation mandates that all goods entering the UK must be accompanied by an ENS, and the penalties for non-compliance can be severe. To ensure your operations run smoothly, it’s essential to use this time wisely to prepare.
We estimate you’ll need 7-8 weeks to get prepared. Here’s a week-by-week guide to help your business and team get ready for the new ENS rules and avoid last-minute stress.
Week 1: Understand the New ENS Requirements
The first step to compliance is knowledge. Take the time to fully understand the new ENS requirements. The ENS is a pre-arrival customs declaration that must be submitted for all goods entering the UK, including driver-accompanied vehicles and unaccompanied trailers.
‼Action: Familiarise yourself with the details, including the submission deadlines for different types of transport:
✈Air freight: Short-haul flights by take-off, long-haul flights 4 hours before arrival
🚢Sea freight: 24 hours before loading for containers, 4 hours before arrival for conventional shipments
🚛Road freight: 1 hour before arrival
🚊Rail freight: 2 hours before arrival
You can review the information on the UK Government website or you can read through the materials and resources on the ChannelPorts website.
Week 2: Review Current Process & Source an ENS Solution That Works for You
Once you understand the requirements, assess how prepared your current systems and processes are for handling ENS submissions. Are you equipped to manage these declarations for every UK-bound load?
‼Action: Review your back-office systems and workflows to identify any gaps. Ensure you have a process in place for submitting ENS declarations and monitoring deadlines to avoid any last-minute panics at the border.
It’s critical to source an ENS solution that integrates smoothly with your existing customs clearance processes. Selecting the right tool now will save you time and stress later on. We recommend contacting an ENS expert at ChannelPorts to discuss what needs to be done and how CustomsPro ENS can help.
CustomsPro ENS is designed to work seamlessly with your current systems, offering a fast, efficient, and easy-to-use platform for ENS submissions. The team at ChannelPorts is highly experienced, having navigated the numerous Brexit changes, so they are well-equipped to keep your goods moving through these new regulations.
‼Action: Contact ChannelPorts to speak to an ENS expert and get a demonstration of how CustomsPro ENS can fit into your current workflow.
Week 3: Select Your Solution Provider and Brief Your Teams
By this point, you need to have selected your ENS solution provider. With the new ENS requirements fast approaching, your teams need to be well-informed and prepared. Brief all internal departments—including logistics, compliance, and operations—about the new ENS rules and your chosen solution. Your drivers should also be aware of the steps they need to take.
‼Action: Hold team briefings to explain the new ENS process, including submission deadlines and what to do in case of any issues at the border. Make sure everyone understands the importance of timely, accurate submissions.
Week 4: Test Your ENS Submission Process for Every Scenario
With your team briefed and your ENS solution in place, it’s time to test your process. But don’t just cover the usual scenarios—be prepared for the unexpected. Run multiple tests to ensure your team can handle any situation that may come their way.
‼Action: Test your ENS submission process using CustomsPro ENS, covering a wide range of scenarios, from standard operations to unusual or unexpected cases. This will help identify any potential issues and ensure you are ready for any challenges that may arise.
Week 5: Plan for Emergencies
Even with careful planning, things can go wrong at the border. Your drivers need to know what to do if they encounter any issues. Make sure they have an emergency plan in place, and provide them with direct access to CustomsPro ENS 24/7 customer service, which is there to assist in resolving any border challenges.
‼Action: Develop a detailed emergency plan and ensure your drivers are aware of what steps to take if there’s an issue at customs. Ensure they know how to contact back-office support and CustomsPro ENS customer service if needed.
Week 6: Final Preparations – Monitor and Adjust
The deadline is approaching, and now is the time to make any final adjustments to your ENS submission process. Monitor your systems closely to ensure everything is running smoothly and make any last-minute tweaks where necessary.
‼Action: Conduct a final review of your ENS submissions, ensuring all systems are functioning correctly. Confirm that all team members are fully prepared, and ensure your drivers have access to the necessary support contacts.
Week 7: Go-Live – Stay Compliant and Keep Moving
The new ENS requirements are now live. Your team should be submitting ENS declarations routinely alongside the standard customs clearance paperwork, and your drivers should be prepared for any challenges they may face at the border. At this point, it’s all about staying compliant and keeping your freight moving.
‼Action: Monitor the go-live process, ensuring ENS declarations are submitted on time and that drivers have the support they need for any issues that may arise.
Post-Launch: Review and Acknowledge
Once the new ENS requirements are in effect, it’s important to review how your operations performed. Conduct a post-launch assessment to identify any areas for improvement and celebrate the success of managing this transition. Thank your team for their hard work and dedication, especially if everything went smoothly without major hiccups.
‼Action: Conduct a post-launch review to assess the performance of your ENS submission process. Gather feedback from your team and identify any potential improvements. Take a moment to thank your team for their efforts in managing this significant change.
Why Choose CustomsPro ENS?
As you prepare for these changes, one of the most critical steps is choosing a reliable ENS submission solution. CustomsPro ENS is designed specifically to meet the needs of hauliers, offering a fast and simple way to manage ENS submissions. Whether you’re an existing CustomsPro user or new to the platform, CustomsPro ENS makes it easy to stay compliant.
✳Fast and Simple: Submit your ENS declaration in under two minutes with an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
✳24/7 Support: Got an issue at the border? CustomsPro ENS provides round-the-clock support to help you navigate any challenges and ensure your goods keep moving.
✳Fixed Fee Solution: For a predictable and transparent fee, you can ensure compliance with no hidden costs.
✳Full Integration: If you’re already using CustomsPro for UK imports, ENS is seamlessly integrated into your existing system at no extra charge.
Prepare Now and Avoid Last-Minute Panic
With just a few months to go, the clock is ticking for hauliers to get ready for the new ENS requirements. By following this week-by-week guide, you can ensure your team is fully prepared, your systems are up to date, and your drivers know exactly what to do. And with CustomsPro ENS, you’ll have the tools and support needed to navigate these changes with confidence.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about how CustomsPro ENS can help your business stay compliant and avoid costly delays.