Customs Freight Simplified Procedures (CFSP) is a customs declaration system for importers, replacing period entry and period warehousing. The CFSP is administered by HMRC, allowing for faster release of imported goods from European member countries.
There are many benefits to CFSP including reduced freight-forwarder fees as well as control and visibility for importers.
Other advantages to using CFSP include:
- accelerated release of goods from Customs (subject to anti-smuggling checks)
- significant administrative savings
- cash flow benefits
- electronic frontier declaration submissions
- can be used with normal entry and warehouse procedures to fit your business need
Customs Freight Simplified Procedures (CFSP)
There are two CFSP procedures: The Simplified Declaration Procedure and the Local Clearance Procedure. These procedures can be used independently or combined.
Simplified Declaration Procedure (SDP): for releasing goods at the frontier to most customs procedures. (Could be useful if you are importing perishable goods.)
Local Clearance Procedure (LCP): for moving goods from the frontier to storage and then releasing to a customs procedure. (Could be done using either the Community or National Transit system, for which you need to be authorised.)
Simplified Frontier Declaration (SFD)
When goods arrive at the port, a Simplified Frontier Declaration (SFD) is produced to declare imported goods. It is submitted to CHIEF electronically. Only certain goods will require supporting documentation, however the examination team at the ports still have the right to detain containers for examination. The Supplementary Declaration Import (SDI) is then submitted to Customs at a later date dependant on what procedure it is entered to.
Following the clearance of the SFD, the goods are now able to move to either a temporary storage premises or Customs Warehouse.
Supplementary Declarations (SDs)
You must complete and submit SDs once goods have been imported or when they’re removed from a temporary storage premises or Customs Warehouse and a customs procedure is declared.
The SDs are used to calculate the duty and taxes you owe and track levels of international trade. Submitting SDs is mandatory for most CFSP imports.
You must submit the SDs electronically to CHIEF via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) within the required reporting period. You may transmit declarations individually or in batches. On acceptance of the SD, CHIEF will respond with a CUSRES message giving the calculated revenue.
Final Supplementary Declarations (FSDs)
Final Supplementary Declarations must also be submitted regularly. FSDs show the number of SDIs and SDWs submitted and/or due in the reporting period.
If you are operating the standard customs reporting periods, these must also be submitted by the fourth working day of the month following the reporting period.
The FSD may also be used to report late declarations from previous periods.
SAP Global Trade Services is an authorised software for CFSP for submitting Supplementary Declaration for Imports (SDI), Supplementary Declaration for Warehouse (SDW) and Final Supplementary Declaration (FSD).
