Q Now that Britain is a member of the European Economic
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Community is it still necessary to operate abroad under TIR regulations or is there another form ((Customs convention?
AIt has never been essential to conform to the TIR convention in order to operate abroad. It was possible to carry freight to other countries without TIR cover but not very practicable to do so. An operator risked considerable delay at frontier posts by Customs examination and clearance. There was also a possibility, if the Customs documents were not in order, of being asked to depoSit a sum equal to the amount of duty chargeable.
From January 1, however, the Community transit system has become generally available to British hauliers. This is usually known as the T form procedure and entails three types of form — Tl, T2 and T3.
British hauliers will be mostly concerned with the T3 form during the transitional period till July 1977 during which time tariffs on British goods will be reduced progressively. This form will allow such freight to enter member countries at the current rate of duty.
Form T1 is for goods which do not originate in a member State and therefore do not qualify for Customs duty concessions. Form T2 refers to goods which originate in member States and qualify for the full benefit of Community duty concessions which eventually will involve free passage, The TIR convention will remain as an alternative, at least for the time being, but the full Community transit procedure will be mandatory when a journey involves crossing two or more frontiers (the sea counting as one) to reach their EEC destination. Goods which are subject to control of their use or destination will also be subject to the Community transit procedure. Membership of the Road Haulage Association or the Freight Transport Association will not be necessary under the T form regulations as it is under the TIR system.
It is not yet clear how the vehicle approval which was necessary under TIR operation will be affected.
Details of the Community transit scheme can be obtained from the European Communities Division of the Customs and Excise Department or any VAT office.