Primarolo announces Customs e-commerce initiatives
Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo yesterday flagged up a raft of Customs and Excise e-commerce measures she claims will cut red tape for UK exporters and importers.
New electronic systems and simplified bureaucratic procedures are among the new international trade measures that Customs believe will give UK business an extra competitive edge.
‘The aim is to position the UK at the forefront of modernisation within international trade,’ Primarolo said. ‘By simplifying procedures for the trade and keeping pace with the developments in electronic commerce.’
Electronic customs procedures for exporters of goods to non-EU countries are due from July next year, while a new computerised transit system for goods crossing the Common Transit European area to a third country will come in force in two years time.
Red tape busting measures are also underway by the Group of Seven top industrialised nations, and a Single European Authorisation pilot has been set-up for companies importing non European goods to multiple EU destinations.
She claimed that close work with the trade had thrown up innovative solutions that were tailored to the needs of UK business.
‘Government has fought hard to obtain worthwhile benefits for UK business within the European Community, G7 and World Customs Organisation, because many worthwhile changes can only be brought about through international agreement’, she added.
Simplified procedures for importers of goods from outside the EU were introduced in 1997.
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