The meetings of the Group will normally be held four times per year on the second Thursday in the month with additional meetings as required if there are relevant topics for discussion. We arrange flexibly in line with updates and new information but typically arrange to meet in February, May, September and November (AGM). Where possible we will hold a hybrid meeting based at various physical venues in central London, with an option to join by video conferencing. The meetings are 6 o'clock in the evening until 8 o'clock with some networking typically starting from 5.30pm and additionally following the meeting.
All members must be experienced practitioners in the field of customs across a number of specialities such as law, consultancy, in-house management, and brokerage. Membership is £100 per year, which includes participation in the members' meetings, access to a members' forum, and receipt of regular mailings of customs and international trade related technical material (some of which is not always available as quickly or at all on the websites of European customs administrations, trade ministries, the European Commission, etc.). Members serve for the CPG on customs focussed working parties, and collaborate with the government, the European Commission and others to raise awareness of customs issues and work towards resolving them.
A technical specialist is usually invited to participate in a presentation and discussion with members at most meetings. This is often a representative from relevant government agencies and/or a member with a specific technical update.
Speaker: TBD
#
Venue: Hybrid - TBD
Special extra meeting: Small consultancies' forum
An opporunity for self-employed customs consultants to discuss challenges and opportunities.
Venue: Virtual via Zoom
Speaker: Sarah McLean - Head of Modernising Authorisations and HMRC policy.
TBD also Kate Ravenscroft regarding the new Special Procedure Project launched by HMRC,
#
Venue: Hybrid
In person at Crowe and virtually via zoom
Speaker: David Vallely from HMRC's Traders & Intermediaries Account Management was joined by colleagues Patrick Holohan, Carol Carlile and Alan Daly.
We discussed the changes from 1st January and the further changes coming up on 1st July as well as the trasnition to CDS and availability of trader data via the digital dashboard.
Venue: Virtual via zoom
Speaker: David Vallely from HMRC's Traders & Intermediaries Account Management. He will be covering the changes expected from 1st Jan 2022.
Thank you to David for an informative session.
A record number of members managed to attend either in-person or online (52 members or guests), and we plan to continue holding hybrid meetings as it enables people to attend even if they can't physcially get to London.
Venue: Hybrid
Physically we were at Ernst & Young, 25 Churchill Place, London, E14 5EY
Virtually we were on zoom
Speaker: HMRC's Dave McAlpine on Freeports
Venue: A virtual meeting via ZOOM
Speaker: Various members speaking including Barbara Scott, Jessica Yang and Arne Mielken
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
The meeting covered several interesting topics including:
Insufficient Production rules within the UK-EU TCA
The activities of the EU Trade Contact Group
The definition of an exporter
The consulation on tax advisors and the need for professional indemity insurance
Case discussion - The revocation of a BOI from Belguim
Deferred declarations
Speaker: No speaker as this is an additional update meeting
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: HMRC’s Elly Paterson to talk about Northern Ireland
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: Multiple speakers from governemt agencies to talk about Origin,
including FDO, HMRC and DIT.
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: No speaker as this is an additional update meeting
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: No speaker as this is an additional update meeting
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: – Claire Wilson of HMRC’s Customs & Border Design, Stakeholder Engagement Team
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: No speaker as this is an additional update meeting
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: Ryan Sweeney of the Department for International Trade
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: No speaker as this is an additional update meeting
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: Claire Wilson of HMRC’s Customs and Border Design Team
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Topic: Small business consultancy roundtable. Members will share knowledge of the practicalities, challenges and opportunities associated with running a small customs consultancy practice.
Venue: A virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: Colin Davies, HMRC to discuss the new AEO Authorisations process.
Venue: Our first virtual meeting to be conducted via ZOOM
Speaker: Barbara Scott, CPG Chair - customs updates
Venue: Baker McKenzie LLP, 100 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6JA
Speaker: Jeremy White, CPG Member - an update on recent Customs Case Law.
Venue: RPC, Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine's Way, London E1W 1AA.
Speaker: Members' Open Forum on Brexit.
Venue: Baker McKenzie, 100 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6JA.
Speaker: Ogechi Nnamani, HMRC International Trade Development Officer, London Region.
Venue: Pinsent Masons LLP, 30 Crown Place, Earl Street, London EC2A 4ES.
Speaker: Margaret Whitby & Michael Allison, HMRC, on on Brexit D1ND & Customs update; Barbara Scott, CPG Chair on CDS.
Venue: Clifford Chance, 4 Coleman Street, London EC2E 5JJ
Speaker: Jeremy White, CPG Member, on Brexit.
Venue: RPC, Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine's Way, London E1W 1AA.
This meeting was also the AGM and, after the formal business was concluded, we had a presentation from our own Jeremy White on Brexit, future trade arrangements with the EU and border delivery improvements.