The Customs Watch EU&UK: Edition 22
- Arne Mielken
- Jun 10, 2025
- 7 min read
EU: Import Surge Tracker Reviewed - UK (NI) Rules Change - PIVA authorisation - CDS new Release.
Edition 22 - Week 24/2025
Period Covered: 4 - 10 June 2025
Published: 10 June 2025
Colleagues,
Welcome to the new edition of The Customs Watch EU & UK! We are making changes to take account of your feedback. For we are testing no downloads, no pdf., everything in one message.
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Table of Contents
Featured Article
Headlines from the EU
Headlines from the UK
Insights from the Customs Department
Download of the Week
Compliance & Cost Saving Video of the Week
Arne’s Opinion
Upcoming In-Person Meet-Ups, PREMIUM and Free-For-ALL Live Event
How To Book A Free Expert Call
Our 4-in-1 Services
U.S. Training Announcements
Book a Free Call with Arne
1. Featured Article: EU: Import Surge Tracker Reviewed

The European Commission has rolled out a new Import Surveillance Tool, backed by a dedicated task force and fuelled by customs data. The goal? To spot and stop sudden surges in imports before they hurt EU producers.
Key Questions Covered in This Blog
What is the EU's new import surveillance tool, and how does it work?
Why was this tool introduced now?
What kind of data does the tool use?
How can EU businesses and customs professionals use this tool effectively?
What are the limitations and risks of the tool?
What actions can the EU Commission take based on the tool’s findings?
Official Links:
2. Headlines from the EU
If you are interested in more details, please subscribe to the Customs Watch EU & UK, and test it with a 7-day free trial.
Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of 1,4-Butanediol originating in the People’s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America
2020 EU-US Tariff Dispute: Advocate General Ćapeta - the Commission did not violate Zippo’s right to be heard (See CPR No.66/2025 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the Case C-811/23; Commission Vs. Zippo Manufacturing and Others)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1132 of 3 June 2025 amending Implementing Regulations (EU) 2020/761 and (EU) 2020/1988 as regards tariff rate quotas for products originating in Ukraine in 2025
EU extends safeguard measures suspension on iron and steel to support war-torn Ukraine’s economy
3. Headlines from the UK
If you are interested in more details, please subscribe to the Customs Watch EU & UK, and test it with a 7-day free trial.
Guidance from HMRC Avoid delays to NI movements from 28 June 2025 – ensuring declarations and licences are correct
Expand details
From 28 June 2025, licence data on declarations for goods movements will be verified by a system called CERTEX. This replaces the Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) for Northern Ireland.
Where a licence is required, this change will impact the following document types:
Certificates of Organic Conformity (COI)
Plants and plant products (CHED.PP)
Food and feed of non-animal origin (CHED.D)
Food and products of animal origin (CHED.P)
Live animals (CHED.A)
Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
Fluorinated Gases (FGAS)
For these licensed goods moving into or out of Northern Ireland by import, export or transit, information on declarations such as commodity code, net mass, and supplementary units must match with licences. This is essential to avoid unnecessary delays to the movement of goods.
Also, from 28 June 2025, the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) reference must also be provided on the declaration in the new format. The reference format must be letters followed by numbers and include the full stop character. For example, 'CHEDA.XI.2025.1234567'.
If a trader is pre-lodging a declaration that will be arrived from 28 June this will need to include the new CHED format. If they have already pre-lodged a declaration for arrival from 28 June using the old CHED format, they will need to use the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and amend this prior to the arrival of the goods. They must continue to use the old CHED format if they are pre-lodging a declaration that will arrive prior to 28 June. Failure to use the correct CHED format will result in rejections once the goods arrive and potentially delays in getting the goods released.
Processes for making a declaration or obtaining a licence remain unchanged.
You can support your members by sharing these messages alongside detailed GOV.UK guidance.
Additional support for traders
For support for goods in movement, contact the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk.
For general support with freight movements, traders can contact the Trader Support Service team, or call the HMRC Customs and International Trade helpline on 0300 322 9434 (textphone 0300 200 3719).
For support with parcels movements, traders can contact their parcel express operator. Please note this change does not impact express operators moving consumer parcels under the UK Carrier Scheme.
Upcoming document code changes to facilitate CERTEX validation
From 28th June 2025 certain document codes will start to be validated against the EU CERTEX data base. This will mainly impact the import of sanitary & phytosanitary goods into Northen Ireland. The attached documents provide advanced notice of the changes. For pre-lodged declarations relating to goods arriving in Northern Ireland from 28th June onwards, the revised requirements should be applied immediately, otherwise the declaration will need to be amended before the goods are arrived.
Download:
CDS Release R4.8.0 – Sat 14/Sun 15 June 2025 – NCTS impact. Due to the upcoming Customs Declaration Service (CDS) Release, declarations submitted into the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) may be queued from 10:30pm on Saturday 14th June 2025 to 1am on Sunday 15th June 2025. NCTS will be available during this time and any declarations queued will be held and processed once the maintenance activity has concluded. HMRC recommends customers submit declarations prior to the downtime to avoid any delay in movements.
Check when you can account for import VAT on your VAT Return Using another person or business to import goods? They must now have written permission to use postponed VAT accounting.
TRA investigates hot-rolled steel plate from South Korea. The TRA has opened an anti-dumping investigation into imports of hot-rolled steel plate from South Korea.
The ‘Consolidated Workaround Document pre-4.8.0’ edition includes Known Differences (KD) that are due to be resolved in the 4.8.0 update. There are 3 KEL to KD migrations, alongside the Known Error Log (KEL) additions, amendments and closures. Please also note there is a revised fix date for CR084.Updates and changes are listed on the individual Change Log tabs. To view the details of these changes, navigate to the relevant tabs (KD, KEL, ILE vs CHIEF or CR).
4. Insights from the Customs Department: EU's Import Surge Tracker FAQ: Your Questions answered
Download the heatmap, the latest monitoring results, and get your questions answered.
5. Compliance & Cost Saving Video of the Week: 🎥: One Wrong Word Can Cost You Thousands - Customs Compliance Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid surprise customs fees, missed duty savings, and costly compliance mistakes—this video is your essential guide to smarter importing in the EU, UK, and US.
6. Arne’s Opinion
My Take: EU vs. Trump – Wake Up, Europe! Cozy diplomacy or not, we need a deal.
7. Our Upcoming Customs Training
Mon, Jun 16 | Virtual Online Webinar
Avoid, mitigate, and recover U.S. tariffs like a pro! Learn insider strategies and contract clauses to shield your business from rising import costs in this must-attend expert PREMIUM webinar.
📍Held online – suitable for all EU & UK-based customs professionals or at our London Office.
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