"hree-day vat delay FjoAhteakaers EE-DAY Customs clearance vs have become
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the norm rntering the Irish Republic, already a leading parcels pany has been compelled to idon its 24-hours guarad delivery delivery service to and the UK. ALAN MILLAR re; from Dublin.
e introduction of a new 9 added tax payment proceon September 1, requiring Mars to pay vat at the point 'try to Ireland, has extended oms clearance times, added ansport costs, and reduced !utility of service available to -pressed traders.
e measure was introduced ase the Irish Government's ible cashflow problems, but rding to several businesses :ted, including the semi; ferry operator B+I Line, it extended clearance times one to three and a half ir parcel carrier TNT Irish mite, it has meant the doof its recently started 24 • air freight-supported Desh Post service to the UK , July 31). It now trunks ids on a 48-hour basis ugh North Wales and Northreland.
B+1, Dublin port manager, y McNally, explained that revised arrangements have 3d to congestion at its trailer in the port. Now, around trailers are held on its nises, awaiting clearance, 3 reas before September e were fewer than 100. The lber increases at weekends, mere is a Saturday ferry ser
, but no weekend Customs rance facility.
r NcNally told me that B+I already recruited six tempostaff on an indefinite basis, to cope with the additional documentation, and that rtime being worked by staff, andle the extra workload, is .ing it around 1R£400 (£315) a 1k. Another company withN its sales staff to handle the linistrative burden.
nder the new arrangements, .e are three methods of ing vat when entering Ire he customer can pay by k draft on arrival.
-le can apply separately for a arred payment of special arance, ensuring that the goods are cleared before the entry is passed.
• He can seek deferred-payment without special clearance facilities.
Goods covered by deferred payments must be passed by the Irish Customs office before they are cleared at a landing station, and 13+1 is advising its customers to apply for special clearance facilities.
It is also recommending those that pay vat at the time of entry to send their bank draft to the company as soon as it is advised that a consignment has arrived.
B+I has applied for longroom facilities, which would give it onthe-spot Customs clearance facilities, rather than having to depend on city centre staff away from its Dublin terminal. A Confederation of Irish Industry spokesman told me that longroom facilities, generally, would help ease the problem.
Mr McNally added that B+1, in common with other shippers, is resorting to levying demurrage charges on trailers delayed because of the vat changes. B+I. charges 1R£30 a day after the third day of storage. It demands payment or a telex commitment to payment before releasing trailers.
Both he and the CII spokesman pointed out that this adds to the difficulties facing UK/Ireland traders, as there is already an imbalance of traffic, with more loaded vehicles entering Ireland than leaving it. Operators can ill afford the cost of buying extra trailers.
Several industrial interests have been pressing for a change to the arrangements, which
represent a non-tariff barrier to EEC trade, and Mr McNally suggested that documentation, possibly using computers, would jmake two-day clearance possible, if the authorities introduced it,
The CII wants a more flexible approach to payment arrangements. THE FREIGHT Transport Association is holding a three-day residential course on the technical instructions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Speakers will be from the air transport industry and the course will cost £225 plus vat per person for members of FTA plus vat and the Chemical Industries Association, and £250 for nonmembers.
Interested organisations should contact the FTA Management Training Centre on 0982 883688 for further information.