Today’s trade nugget of the day for #Brexit: customs IT system. Whether you are a maxfacker (I’ve always wanted to write this) or a trader: what you want is a paperless customs systems. How is customs IT doing?
The EU is shooting for an IT based system. That’s what Art. 6(1) of the Union Customs Code says.
You might think “oh we all have computers, so what’s the problem” - but you are talking about a highly complex system across 28 (soon 27) countries. In fact, the EU wanted to move to an electronic environment with the 2008 Modernised Customs Code. Turned out that didn’t work.
The UCC now does what the MCC didn’t manage. The UCC entered into force on 1 May 2016.
However - for e-customs there are still transitional arrangements in place. The Commission plans that most systems will be in place in 2020. Some, however, may not be fully completed until 2025.
Bear this in mind when considering that the UK is switching IT systems for customs - planned before Brexit, but of course a nightmare (bear in mind that even upgrading your ipad can be a nightmare) as described by @jl_owen here instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/…
@jl_owen In fact - facilitating the hugely complex endeavour that is customs with thousands of customs posts and hundreds of thousands of operators is a nightmare. So the WTO Trade Facilitation proudly strives....
... not for a mandatory electronic system, not for a voluntary electronic system, but to endeavour to accept paper copies, where possible. And don’t kid yourself: for some administrations accepting copies is a huge step forward from the originals they required in the past. 
