The cargo community at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has teamed up with Dutch Customs to simplify e-commerce declaration with VENUE.

VENUE is designed to help shippers import and export items purchased via e-commerce platforms such as fashion, personal care and homeware throughout the Union Customs Code transition period, ending in January 2021.

VENUE-authorised shippers are able to submit a pre-declaration leaving out one or more particulars such as Harmonised System (HS) code, while goods valued at 22 euros of less require no supplementary declaration.

The airport says VENUE offers significant advantages because generating HS codes can be time consuming and this innovation will keep cargo flowing smoothly while maintaining efficient and reliable Customs clearance processes. VENUE declaration is available until Q3 2019.

Schiphol Cargo business development director, Saskia van Pelt says: “The air cargo market is changing and we are seeing a huge increase in e-commerce parcels. At Schiphol we are focused on ensuring we continue to provide a high quality, efficient service for our e-commerce customers and VENUE will help us to do just that.”

Dutch Customs AEO auditor, Alex Drost adds: “The rise in e-commerce is changing the supply chain and last year we saw an increase of 15% in Customs declarations, even though the volumes at Amsterdam remained stable.”