Retirement of Chief opens lucrative space for CDS specialists

Credit Paul Wishart Dreamstime.com

Intermediaries are facing a “lucrative opportunity” as the UK switches to a new single customs platform in 2023.

Chairman of ASM Peter MacSwiney said experience from the introduction of the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) in Northern Ireland suggested traders “want nothing to do with” the replacement to the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (Chief) system.

“Even though CDS is free, traders in Northern Ireland have seemed reluctant to use it,” Mr MacSwiney told The Loadstar.

“Instead, they are turning to intermediaries ...