On January 31st, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) began to operate outside the European Union (EU). Since the UK’s departure, the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA) governs the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. Last June, a timetable for the phased introduction of regulations on imports from the EU into Great Britain was announced to ensure businesses had enough time to prepare for the changes.
Not long after introducing the phased approach, the UK government realized that the new regulations, amplified by the impact of Covid-19, have been more disruptive than anticipated. Accordingly, the UK Government reviewed the timeframes, and a new timetable for the regulations on imports was introduced. The new regulations are as follows:
Pre-notification requirements for Products of Animal Origin (POAO), certain animal by-products (ABP), and High-Risk Food Not of Animal Origin (HRFNAO) will not be required until October 1st, 2021. Export health certificate requirements for POAO and ABP will be enforced on the same date.
Customs import declarations will still be required, but the deferred declaration scheme’s option is allowed. This includes submitting supplementary declarations up to six months after goods have been imported, and the deadline has been extended to January 1st, 2022.
Safety and security declarations for imports will not be required until January 1st, 2022.
Physical SPS checks for POAO, ABP, and HRFNAO will not be required until January 1st, 2022.
Physical SPS checks on high-risk plants will occur at Border Control Posts rather than at the place of destination. This goes into effect on January 1st, 2022.
Pre-notification requirements and documentary checks, including phytosanitary certificates, will be required for low-risk plants and plant products. This will be effective starting on January 1st, 2022.
Starting in March of 2022, checks on live animals and low-risk plants and plant products will occur at Border Control Posts.
It’s important to note that exporters moving controlled goods into Great Britain will continue to be ineligible for the deferred customs declaration approach. They are still required to complete a full customs declaration when the goods enter the United Kingdom. Please view the diagram below to see the latest timetable for the new regulations.
(Click to Enlarge)
Logistics Plus Europe remains fully operational as we continue to support our clients in and out of the United Kingdom. If you need assistance navigating the post-Brexit logistics era, please contact our team of logistics experts today.
By definition, an importer of record (IOR) refers to an importer (an entity or an individual) who is responsible for ensuring that legal goods are imported following the laws and regulations of the importing country. The importer of record is responsible for filing legally required documents and paying the assessed import duties and other taxes on the imported goods.
Importer of Record (IOR) Documentation Responsibilities
The importer of record is responsible for all supporting documentation that goes along with an import. This can include import and export licenses, permits, local rules and regulations paperwork, and more. Along with documentation, the IOR typically handles the payment of duties, taxes, tariffs, and fees, all of which require additional paperwork and forms to be filled out.
Enforced Customs & Compliance Considerations
The importer of record must remain compliant with all necessary rules, regulations, and statutes in the importing country. An IOR service provider is subject to enforced compliance inspections of imports, documentation audits, monetary penalties, civil penalties, and investigations. Certain government agencies have the authority to over-rule the importer of record and deny entry of certain imports. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can deny an import if it’s seen as a possible threat to the general well-being of the United States.
What’s the Difference Between an IOR & EOR?
An exporter of record (EOR) covers the same points as the IOR but applies to exports rather than imports. An exporter of record is responsible for all steps of the export process from the country the product is leaving. An exporter is a person or company that is authorized by customs and government authorities to export goods from one country into another. The exporter isn’t always the actual seller of goods, it can be an entity acting on their behalf.
High-Value Goods
Every import of high-value requires a local business or registered entity to act as the importer of record for customs. As an example, it’s generally quicker and more cost-effective to procure high-value technology products from the U.S. as opposed to working with technology distributors around the world. Working with an IOR service provider gives you the ability to import into hundred of countries worldwide with a single point of contact, minimizing the risks and costs associated with high-value goods.
Additional Services Provided
Some IOR service providers, like Logistics Plus, offer additional benefits acting as your importer of record. Oftentimes this includes door-to-door logistics management, value-added tax (VAT) reclamation, duty and tax optimization to determine the accurate classification, trading entity assistance, and more.
Learn more about Logistics Plus IOR services by watching the video below.
Logistics Plus Expands Importer of Record Services to over 190 Countries
Services cater to manufacturers, network security firms, cloud service providers, and value-added resellers across many industries.
ERIE, PA (November 19, 2020) – Logistics Plus Inc., a leading worldwide provider of transportation, logistics, and supply chain solutions, has announced an expansion of its Importer of Record (IOR) and Exporter of Record (EOR) services to and from more than 190 countries around the world. Logistics Plus has been providing IOR and EOR services to its global technology clients for several years but has since expanded its capabilities into other industries and additional countries. The newly augmented operation is headed up by an experienced team based in Erie, Pennsylvania, with support from the company’s offices and agents around the world.
IOR/EOR service providers are companies that take on the responsibility for an import or export shipment. Services include obtaining necessary import/export licenses, preparing the required paperwork, providing compliance checks, arranging for customs clearance, and assisting with all other aspects of the logistics.
“Shipping high-value products like technology equipment or servers globally is complex for even the most experienced logistics experts,” said Yuriy Ostapyak, COO and director of global operations for Logistics Plus. “These types of shipments are often highly regulated and require expensive import permits and local knowledge to avoid costly fines or delays. Logistics Plus has both the experience and expertise as an Importer of Record for a variety of clients, and our expanded services in this area will allow us to now help additional importers and exporters around the world.”
Logistics Plus Inc. provides freight transportation, warehousing, fulfillment, global logistics, business intelligence technology, and supply chain management solutions through a worldwide network of talented and caring professionals. The company was founded over 24 years ago in Erie, PA, by local entrepreneur Jim Berlin. Today, Logistics Plus is a highly regarded, fast-growing, and award-winning transportation and logistics company. With a Passion For Excellence™, its employees put the “plus” in logistics by doing the big things properly, plus the countless little things, that together ensure complete customer satisfaction and success.
The Logistics Plus® network includes offices, warehouses, and agents located in Erie, PA; Akron, OH; Buffalo, NY; Chicago, IL; Chino, CA; Cleveland, OH; Dallas, TX; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Fort Worth, TX; Haslet TX; Houston, TX; Laredo, TX; Lexington, NC; Los Angeles, CA; Melbourne, FL; Nashville, TN; New York, NY; Olean, NY; San Francisco, CA; Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Egypt; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Libya; Mexico; Netherlands; Poland; Saudi Arabia; Taiwan; Turkey; UAE; Ukraine; Uganda; and United Kingdom; with additional agents around the world. For more information, visit www.logisticsplus.com or follow @LogisticsPlus on Twitter.
As most know by now, Logistics Plus took on the challenge of sourcing, importing, and distributing much needed PPE supplies (personal protective equipment) from China to the United States. We knew there would be obstacles along the way; but thanks to great teamwork and collaboration, we are finding a way to make it happen.
Megan Stetz, an air import operations specialist for Logistics Plus International (LPI) has had her hand on the pulse of the current situation at O’Hare (ORD) airport. Here is her account of those events.
The first import of supplies consisted of 500,000 face masks packaged into 504 cartons, arriving Thursday, April 2nd. As with any new shipment, once it departs at origin, curve balls can be thrown. Shortly after the shipment departed Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), we completed customs clearance – and that was a huge success. Since the shipment was arriving late in the evening at ORD, pickup was in the afternoon the next day. There was a short delay on breakdown, but nothing out of the usual for an airport pickup. On Saturday, when the shipment arrived into our warehouse, a truck was dispatched to deliver the first batch of PPE supplies to Erie.
The second import was even more challenging. There were three orders that flew into ORD on Monday, April 6th. In total, 365 more cartons which included face shields, goggles, and KN95 masks. At this point, ORD Airport was starting to see a change in pace. Most handling agents have limited staffing due to COVID-19 regulations – not to mention general call-offs from warehouse workers that did not want to take the risk of the exposure. With staff reductions, there are less people onsite to process incoming freight, handle the paperwork, and load the line of waiting trucks outside their dock doors. Additionally, ORD itself saw a spike in cargo due to the mess at JFK Airport. JFK has been drowning in freight with no light at the end of the tunnel; so, most shipments that have Northeast destinations are now being routed through ORD to avoid JFK. The three orders we had took 42 hours to breakdown (normally would take 4-6 hours) in the warehouse before we had approval to send a driver to collect the freight. The driver had to wait onsite for roughly 6 hours before he was accepted at a dock door. Fortunately, the Logistics Plus domestic (NAD) team did some digging on driver hour regulations – which permits the carrier to be exempt of log hours if he is carrying medical supplies. So fortunately, the driver was finally loaded and able to begin his journey to back to Erie.
The third round of supplies arrived at ORD on Wednesday, April 8th – just two days after the second shipment. ORD was in even worse condition. The warehouse processing our cargo had experienced such an overwhelming amount of freight that they could not breakdown the unit load devices (ULDs) the cargo came on (these are large airline pallets that allow large quantities to be moved together as one unit). Instead, they requested that Logistics Plus collect the ULDs from their warehouse, take it to another warehouse, breakdown the ULDs into our own individual cartons (257 cartons for this order), palletize them, and return the ULDs to the airline when we were done. Once these cartons were palletized, we would arrange for final trucking to Erie.
It is insane to think ORD’s cargo intake has been so drastic that they are making customers breakdown their own freight! But, looking at the bigger picture, with the staff reductions and safety precautions, the warehouses would have a difficult time processing all this freight themselves, even on a normal day. Given that they are receiving mainly freighters and the intended JFK cargo, ORD will have many challenges ahead. Fortunately, Logistics Plus has the benefit of on-site specialists that have good relationships with the airlines, and a local Chicago office and warehouse nearby in case any immediate assistance is needed. These are crazy times, but of course, when a shipment is truly critical … Logistics Plus will always find a solution!
Logistics Plus Supply Chain Solutions (LPSCS) is officially a registered U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) importer. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Logistics Plus felt obligated to help fight the war against this virus by importing personal protective equipment (PPE), gowns, test kits and other medical supplies from countries around the world. In order to do so, an FDA importer license is required.
FDA Importing Overview The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for ensuring that medical devices and radiation-emitting electronic products comply with applicable U.S. regulations when offered for importation into the United States. Foreign establishments must comply with these applicable regulations before, during, and after the medical device or radiation-emitting electronic product is imported into the United States or territory. FDA does not recognize regulatory authorizations from other countries. The product must meet the applicable FDA regulation.
On January 31st, 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) began to operate outside the European Union (EU). Since the UK’s departure, the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA) governs the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. Last June, a timetable for the phased introduction of regulations on imports from the EU into Great Britain was announced to ensure businesses had enough time to prepare for the changes.
By definition, an 
Logistics Plus 