Maritime & Shipping Customs Clearance Services

A customs declaration, or Single Administrative Document (SAD), is a document that provides proof of an import or export. Each SAD is approved by the customs department and is the only valid document proving an import or export operation. Whether you are a large multinational company, a small business or an individual, a customs declaration is required for all goods you import into the UK customs territory across international borders. The customs declaration will list the detail of all the goods being imported in the shipment and is essential for the traceability of movements.

In the UK, all applicable tariffs are paid to HMRC. The importer usually has to pay the customs tariffs before their goods can be released. Payment can be made via your customs agent to HMRC to speed up the process.

You will need the following information in order to appoint your customs clearance broker:

• EORI number – Your Economic Operators Registration & Identification number will be assigned by HMRC and this will need to be quoted on your customs entry declarations.
• Commodity codes – All goods are allocated their own 10-digit number, which can be found on the UK Trade Tariff website. This code determines the applicable duty and VAT charges.
• CPC – The Customs Procedure Code indicates the relevant customs procedure regime showing where goods have come from and to where they are being entered. 

Clarksons’ expert Customs Clearance team can guide you through the process of obtaining this information.

You will need to provide the following information in order for us to process your customs clearance application:

• Completed Customs Entry Instruction (CEI) form – we will email this to you for completion when you appoint Clarksons as your approved broker.
• Authority for Customs Clearance Agent document – we will email this to you for completion, along with your CEI form.
• Method for paying taxes – for example a DDA. You need to pay customs duty once goods arrive in the UK. You can pay HMRC directly or use a Postponed VAT Accounting Deferment Account (PVA).
• Commercial invoice – this must give details of the invoice number, names and address of the buyer and seller, country of origin of the goods, a brief description of the goods, their value, net and gross weights, and number of packages.
• Packing list – a full description of goods, package type, quantity of goods, quantity of packaging, net weight, plus any supplementary information required in relation to the goods’ specific tariff type commodity code.
• Bill of Lading / Delivery note / Consignment note (CMR) – you can get this from your commercial carrier.
• Certificate of origin (if applicable) - widely used in international trade transactions, this document certifies the product listed has met certain criteria.
• Export Health Certificate (EHC) – this official document confirms your export meets the health requirements of the destination country. You must apply for an EHC if you’re exporting/moving goods that derive from animal products from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to, or through the EU, non-EU countries, or Northern Ireland (NI). If the goods are transiting through an EU country, you will also need a transit EHC.