How does an ETSF (External Temporary Storage Facility) work?

With significant customs checks on the increase and declarations roll-on roll-off (RoRo) traffic through UK ports will create delays in goods as UK Customs work through the paperwork. Anyone working on just-in-time delivery will start to feel the impact of these delays especially where goods such as fresh produce, fast parcel deliveries, parts for manufacturing and service, medicines and large groupage loads are involved.
An External Temporary Storage Facility (ETSF) may be a way of avoiding these potential delays through UK CUstoms. Businesses trading internationally are now looking at setting up their own External Temporary Storage Facility (ETSF) to avoid potential delays. These facilities can be located further inland away from the port or frontier.  RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off) traffic can exit the port quickly and the customs declarations can be conducted at the ETS Facility avoiding unnecessary delays.
 
Unfortunately it can take a few months to apply and set one of the External Temporary Storage Facilities up so it needs careful planning.
 
Your company will need a Community Service Provider (CSP) licence with an interface to HMRC’s CHIEF and the new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) for customs declarations and you may want to use an HMRC and Border Force approved CSP Inventory System to help you manage the compliance issues. If you have time to set one up you will be able to avoid the customs clearances issues as you will clear away from the congested border to your inland premises, under the same controls, rules and regulations, it brings all operations in-house rather than at remote port clearance sites.  
 
Alternatively there is the GVMS - Goods Vehicle Movement Service
This new Service (GVMS) from HMRC to facilitate the movement of goods through UK ports by companies that do not wish to operate a Temporary Storage facility.
When goods enter the Custom Territory of the UK GVMS will be used to automate the Office of Transit formalities under the Common Transit Convention for movements using NCTS.
From 1st January these new system will apply to:

• Movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Limited movements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain where an export declaration is required.
• Transit Movements between the EU and UK.
• From 1st July it will be extended to also include:
• Imports from the EU
• Exports to the EU

The port of entry will dictate the use of the GVMS other than for Transit where GVMS can be used for all ports.
Customs declarations will be required to be pre-lodged and associated with a Goods Vehicle Movement record before the vehicle is allowed onto a ferry.
Goods Vehicle Movement records need to contain vehicle details, information on the goods being transported, as well as the details of the Customs declaration either:

• CDS Movement Reference Number (MRN)
• Transit MRN
• EORI for traders using Entry in the Declarants Records (EIDR)

GVMS will also need the Movement Reference Number of any Safety & Security declarations (EU Import control System for goods moving to Northern Ireland and GB Safety & Security from 1st July for goods moving from the EU).