Heathrow-based Agency Sector Management (ASM), alongside the British International Freight Association (BIFA) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), will be running a series of seminars ahead of August’s phased launch of the Customs Declaration System (CDS), the system set to completely replace the existing system for Customs declarations in the UK.

The ASM-BIFA-HMRC CDS seminars have been organised in response to concerns about the readiness of the new system, and to provide companies with the opportunity to fully understand what CDS is, why it is being introduced, how it will impact their businesses, and when the system will be fully launched.

“There are significant differences between CHIEF and CDS, and still a lot of unanswered questions about what will be required from our industry,” says ASM chairman Peter MacSwiney. “These seminars are partly in response to questions we receive from our users when I attend government meetings regarding Brexit and CDS.

“The seminars will provide insight into those differences and address the issues faced by companies that make Customs declarations, which will need time to adjust their internal computer systems to accommodate CDS.”

The seminars are being held at a number of locations across the UK during June and July, with the first taking place on June 12, 2018.

“We are experiencing high demand for seminar places, and we recommend that anyone looking to attend these highly informative events registers their interest by May 11,” says MacSwiney.

In order to register, send ASM an email providing your name, email address, and the name of your company or organisation as well as the regional event you wish to attend.