Export Procedures

S&H Core Courses

Our full day and 2-day S&H favourites are here to deliver a broader knowledge on either a more advanced subject or coveringan a range of subjects at a beginner level. These full day courses are always hosted live, to allow for interaction and questions, they can be held face to face or in a virtual classroom environment.



Understanding Origin & Preference

What is the difference between origin and preferential origin? This interactive workshop explains this by using case studies and exercises to help the learner understand when they are important in both export and import scenarios. It examines the documents and statements used to declare origin and preference and how to verify if your goods meet preference rules across different trade agreements. With HMRC audits increasing, you and the business need to be comfortable with this complex area.

Beginners Guide to Exporting & Importing

This engaging and informative one-day course will introduce you to the world of exporting and importing and focus on the terms and practices used through interactive exercises and activities. This will give you an insight into how goods are bought and sold worldwide.

Beginners Guide to Customs Procedures

A more detailed look at UK customs procedures in full; this course examines the critical areas of customs compliance and gives a detailed overview of the duty relief procedures available to exporters and importers. Following the UK's exit from the EU, greater emphasis is now placed on customs compliance within organisations and their ability to demonstrate an understanding of customs procedures.

Export Essentials: An Introduction to Exporting

Following on from the Beginners Guide to Exporting / Importing this interactive session covers the key points of exporting goods. It covers essential details about the Incoterms Rules, export documentation and working with freight forwarders to ensure goods are correctly declared. Ideal for anyone whose job has an export connection, whether sales, contracts, finance, shipping or for a managerial overview.

Beginners Guide to Export Licensing Controls

Whether at the start of your learning pathway or as a standalone training session, this course will begin your journey to understand export licensing controls and how they work. Covering essential elements gives delegates an excellent springboard to understand what goods, technology or software could be controlled and review business-relevant areas in more detail.

Applying for and Using UK Export Licences

A practical session to explain the information needed to apply for individual licences and how to understand when an open licence is appropriate for a particular movement or transfer of controlled items. This workshop is designed to teach delegates how to use the export licensing system in the UK.

Preparing for a Customs Audit

HMRC are back auditing businesses to ensure understanding and compliance to customs regulations, so this is a timely course aimed at assisting traders to prepare/plan for Customs Audits. As well as looking a standard procedural requirements it will illustrate information required in key areas, eg valuation, preference, VAT evidence of export, use of special procedures (IP/OP) and RGR. Delegates will leave the day with a checklist for procedures to plan for these audits.

Advanced Guide to Import, Export & Customs Procedures

The course aims to guide you to a higher standard of compliance with import & export legislation. After attending, delegates will leave with greater confidence to update /review existing procedures, talk to logistics providers and explain complicated issues in a simple way to other business areas.

Focus On Courses

Channelling our expert knowledge on a specific subject to deliver a in-depth training session. These half and full day training courses are aimed at delegates with a basic understanding of customs procedures and international trade.


Focus On: Temporary Imports & Exports

Whether your sales teams, engineers and technicians hand-carry goods when going overseas or you send them unaccompanied for demonstrations, exhibition, hire or loan, for testing or to have work done on them each temporary movement will require customs declarations at export and import. This course explains the customs and commercial processes involved to control temporary movements and avoid unnecessary customs costs.

Beginners Guide to Exporting & Importing

This presentation focusses on what the HMRC Authorised Economic Operator Status accreditation is, but more importantly, examines whether being an AEO will benefit your own organisation or if staying outside the AEO system will have a detrimental effect on your business. AEO status was introduced in the EU in 2008 and is now part of UK legislation and will be linked to the new border management system coming into force the Trusted Trader Scheme.

Focus On: VAT in International Trade

The aim of interactive session is to demonstrate how supplies of goods and services to overseas customers may or may not be subject to UK VAT and evidence to VAT zero-rate. It illustrates how a UK business should handle VAT obligations when receiving supplies from an overseas business, managing import VAT/PVA, and when import VAT can be reclaimed. It also looks at the circumstances in which a UK business must register for VAT overseas (eg in the EU).

Focus On: ATA Carnets - A Practical Guide to Applying for and using

Since the UK left the EU, there has been an increase in the need to control temporary movements. If you send or receive goods for demonstration, exhibition, testing or as professional equipment, you should consider this Passport for Goods. This half-day session will focus on a useful international scheme for the temporary movement of goods - the ATA Carnet Scheme. It will cover the application process and how to control ATA Carnets' use effectively.

Focus On: Incoterms® 2020 Rules

Trading goods worldwide can expose companies to greater risk & cost in the form of lost goods or unnecessary delays or disputes. The simple allocation of responsibilities in the supply chain can help, which is what Incoterms® Rules have been doing since 1936. Generally, Incoterms® are misunderstood and frequently misused; ensure you are using them correctly by joining us on this full-day interactive course.

Focus On: Preparing for an Export Control Audit

Export Controls increase the level of compliance for businesses whose exports require a licence. The Export Control Joint Unit is responsible for issuing export licences for strategic Goods, Software and Technology (Military and Dual Use) to countries outside the UK.

Focus on Food: Export Procedures

This course has been created to meet the growing demand for specialist training in export processes that apply to food and drink products. It explains the regulatory bodies involved, what they do and what they need from a food/drink exporter. It will help you understand labelling and registration of products and where to obtain further information.

Focus On: Northern Ireland - The Movement of Goods

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol that came into force when the UK left the EU, trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK now come under customs regulations. Understanding your responsibilities when sending from GB to NI can seem a difficult change to procedures to manage. This course looks at this complicated area bringing clarity to customs entries, “at risk” goods, trusted trader scheme.

Focus On: Understanding Free Trade Agreements

With the UK developing new independent trade arrangements both to encourage the export and import of goods and services from affiliated markets, this session is a must. Some knowledge of customs regulations is recommended or attendance on courses introducing this topic. This course looks at the structure of new and old UK international trade agreements, the key rules of origin and how to understand the whole agreement coverings goods, services and other trade issues.

Trading With The USA: An Introduction to Defence Exports

A popular interactive training course designed for companies involved in the Defence, High Technology and Military environment. The USA have very heavy controls on some of its goods; incorrect end-use of certain US technology leads to potential fines and penalties. Ultimately being denied the right to trade with the USA. This course looks at the controls and regulations affecting goods that are caught under the EAR and ITAR

Focus On: Dual Use Export Compliance - The Dual-Use Exporter

This full-day session focuses on a topic relevant to many industry sectors, dual-use regulations. With licences now required for dual-use items moving between the UK and EU, the need to understand this topic has grown significantly. The controls are based on an item’s inherent capability, type of materials or technical ability affecting many industry sectors, including chemical, metals, high-tech products, oil and gas industries, etc.

Technical Workshops

Are you looking to learn a particular skill? Our technical workshops cover a range of topics and aim to enable the delegates to come away with a practical skill, such as how to complete an export entry or knowing how to classify goods. You can expect to spend some time in breakout rooms when learning in the virtual classroom to work on practical examples of what has been covered in the presentation.


How to Complete Export Entries

This workshop explains the rules and regulations for completing UK export entries on CDS. It provides delegates with an understanding of how to build the data entry information, which data elements are essential and how to declare payment methods. Learners will leave the session with sufficient knowledge to be able to complete a basic import customs entry and be able to build on this to submit more complicated entries. Important whether you are an agent or importer.

Advanced CDS Technical Workshop: Exports

This advanced workshop will show how you make an export declaration using different software packages. Each data element group will be explained in detail, together with illustrative examples. The technical advisors share their wealth of experience using multiple software solutions for CDS entries and supporting many clients using a variety of software platforms It is recommended delegates have attended How to Complete Export Customs Entries or have a good awareness of customs declaration requirements.

Tariff Classification Explained - Technical Workshop

In this workshop learner will find out why the tariff is so important, not only because it contains the commodity codes classifications but because of it's link to other trade measures. It looks at the structure of the Harmonised System (HS) and uses interactive session to help you understand how to classify your goods, the importance of section and chapter notes and how and when to use the General Interpretative Rules (GIRs).

Face to Face Courses

All of our Face to Face training courses are delivered in a Covid-19 secure training room. The safety of our trainers & clients is of upmost importance to us. Our Face to Face courses will be limited to a maximum of 10 delegates.


Beginners Guide to Exporting & Importing

This engaging and informative one-day course will introduce you to the world of exporting and importing and focus on the terms and practices used through interactive exercises and activities. This will give you an insight into how goods are bought and sold worldwide.

The Export Course

A useful follow on from Export Essentials, or the Export / Import Practitioner Learning Pathway or for those already experienced in export procedures. This two-day course covers the main aspects of export procedures in a practical, clear and comprehensive way that is relevant to today's exporters. As well as looking at export documents it examines what internal processes and procedures are required to keep compliant.

Tariff Classification Explained - Technical Workshop

In this workshop learner will find out why the tariff is so important, not only because it contains the commodity codes classifications but because of it's link to other trade measures. It looks at the structure of the Harmonised System (HS) and uses interactive session to help you understand how to classify your goods, the importance of section and chapter notes and how and when to use the General Interpretative Rules (GIRs).

Export Essentials: An Introduction to Exporting

Following on from the Beginners Guide to Exporting and Importing, this interactive session covers the critical areas of exporting goods. It covers essential details about the Incoterms® rules, export documentation and working with freight forwarders to ensure goods are correctly declared. Ideal for anyone whose job has an export connection, whether in sales, contracts, finance, shipping or for a managerial overview.

Understanding Origin & Preference

All goods need to be valued correctly for customs purposes, whether a sales, returns, temporary movements or free of charge. The clear rules laid down in the WTO Valuation Agreement and adopted into UK law, will be explained during this practical workshop session as will the difference between intercompany pricing and customs valuation. It will illustrate how to build a price for import customs purposes and the costs that must be included and those that can be removed.

About Our Courses

Aimed at all levels of understanding, these courses range from the basics of completing an export customs declaration, to a more detailed look at the HMRC CHIEF computer system and the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), right through to in-depth workshops dealing with the subject of export procedures, including export control legislation, and dealing with Letters of credit.


Don't forget that Strong and Herd can also provide you with bespoke in-house training to suit your specific training needs. Simply contact us to discuss your complete requirements.

Discuss your requirements ➝

FAQ's

  • We export goods to India from Felixstowe, via Rotterdam, where they are transhipped from a feeder to a deep sea vessel. Should the Felixstowe to Rotterdam stage of the shipment be reported under Intrastat?

    No. Your intention is to export the goods out of the EU, and you must therefore complete normal indirect export formalities for shipment of the goods from the UK to India. This means completing an Export Accompanying Document (EAD) as the partial export entry in the UK and this must accompany goods to Rotterdam. It will be used there by the Dutch authorities to complete the export entry outside the EU. You should ensure the EAD has been completed within 15 days of opening by using the Europa MRN transit database http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/ecs/ecs_home.jsp?Lang=en NB: Goods being imported into the UK from outside the territory of the EU may legally be cleared at the first EU port of call (often Rotterdam bound for the UK). The onward journey to the UK could be reported under Intrastat; however, it is preferable that the appropriate import documentation is used to cover the whole journey from the extra-EU country (e.g. India) to the UK, including transhipment in the original port of arrival in the EU. In the case where Rotterdam is the port of transhipment, the goods were never intended to be imported


    into Holland and clearance there, with an onward Intrastat movement to the UK, can skew Dutch trade statistics.

  • Is it true that the marking of goods with the country of origin isn't just a requirement for Saudi Arabian shipment but also for other countries in that part of the world?

    Several freight forwarders and the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce have been reminding exporters to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries from EU Member States that it is necessary that the actual name of the Country of Origin is written on the goods. The phrase European Community (EC) should be supplemented by the name of the actual member state. This is said to apply to: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE, as well as Saudi Arabia. 

  • We are exporting goods to South Korea and they have asked for a certificate of origin. We are not the manufacturer of the goods, they were made in USA. Firstly, can we say they are UK origin even though we have only re-packaged and re-labelled the goods? If not, can we issue an EC Certificate of Origin if the goods do not originate in the EU?

    To answer your first question first, you cannot change the origin of goods by repacking. For goods to change origin you must do more than handling, they must undergo a process that is substantial enough to change the product, components or raw materials imported and add value. Origin rules (note: we do not mean preference, nothing to do with filling in EUR1 Forms) are governed by the Department for International Trade but you can receive guidance from most Chambers of Commerce. The second question is answered simply with a yes. You can issue an EC Certificate of Origin (CofO) even if the goods are not EC Origin. To expand on this, the EU in the title of the form means this form, in the same style, is used in all the member states of the EU – it does not mean that goods mentioned on it must be of EU origin. To apply for a certificate of origin you must present the completed EU CofO with your shipping invoice and, because you are not the manufacturer and the origin is not UK, you must provide evidence of USA origin. This can either be a copy of the purchase order, the original supplier’s invoice or, in some cases Chambers will accept a statement from the manufacturer confirming origin. 

  • We have a problem in Malaysia with a shipment we sent under an ATA Carnet. The goods were for demonstration purposes only and should have returned to the UK after a month or so. The company in Malaysia like the goods and wants to place a very lucrative order but they also want to keep the demo item and our sales manager has agreed. I have been tasked with sorting out the Carnet. Any help will be appreciated.

    As you are aware, a Carnet (French for book of tickets) is for temporary movement of goods only. If anything goes wrong then it will cause some problems. Our advice is to notify the issuing Chamber of Commerce in the UK as soon as possible so they can guide you through the cancellation procedure. Cancellation of a Carnet has to be negotiated with customs in the overseas country where the goods are to remain. The temporary import entry that has been made against the carnet


    voucher needs to be amended to a permanent import with full payment of import duties and taxes. You will need assistance from your new Malaysian client to succeed. On payment of full duty/tax a "Duty receipt docket" should be issue by Malaysian Customs along with a stamped declaration of import. The re-export voucher of the carnet will not be irrelevant but ask Malaysian customs to duly stamped and endorse it as “cancelled/ duties paid”. The carnet should then be returned to the UK and submitted to the issuing chamber with a letter of explanation.


    You could be charged a fine or penalised in some way for this “mis-use”, eg the chamber may refuse to grant further carnet to the company or hold on to your guarantee for the full 33 months. 

  • A customer in Saudi has asked for our contract to be legalised, what does this mean?

    Legalised means the document in question must be stamped by the Embassy of the overseas country. This is standard practice for countries in the Arab League, like Saudi, but generally only is only requested for invoices and certificates of origin. You can get your contract legalised by sending it through the Chamber of Commerce for endorsement or by using a Consular Service. There will be a legalisation fee chargeable.

  • We have had a question from a customer in the USA. Our terms of sale are DDP Lakewood and the forwarder invoices us with USA duties. The question our customer has asked is - are we the Importer of Record? Are we?

    The “importer of record” is a legal status giving responsibilities under US law to the party named on the import declaration. Normally this party is resident in the USA and has placed power of attorney (POA) with a US customs broker to make declaration on their behalf.


    A company not resident in the USA can also give power of attorney to a US customs broker. If you have done this your company is the “importer of record” but the customs broker (forwarder) is the Principal Party in Interest – in other words they are the resident party who would receive any queries/ fines from US Customs.


    If you have never signed a power of attorney (POA) then one of the following might have happened:


    You are using a fast parcel operator, e.g. Fedex/UPS/DHL and because the goods are below their accepted threshold they are acting as the broker under their own rights to make the customs declarations or; Although you are paying the customs duty and tax into the USA when the declaration is submitted to US customs the broker is using another company’s POA and IRS (Inland Revenue Service reference) – perhaps your customer’s. This would make the customer the “importer of record” with charges billed back to the UK.


    I’m afraid you may have to contact the customs broker in the US to find out what they are doing. You have probably grasped the fact that the “importer of record” has the legal


    responsibility for the import consignment which would include compliance with the USA chemical regulations. Hope this gives you something to work on. 

  • Our customer in Brazil has asked us to remove the tariff code number from our invoice because it causes problems at import. Can you explain this; all our invoices show the tariff code.

     It is possible that the tariff number you quote on your invoice does not correspond to codes used in Brazil. Although Brazil use the same basis for their tariff (Harmonised System) and will have the same first 4-digits in their tariff they do not use exactly the same 8 digits as the EU. If Brazilian Customs cannot relate the code you quote to their regulations this could delay import and potentially lead to problems and increased duty charges being levied. It is not a legal requirement to have the tariff number on the invoice at export so remove it, but ensure you still notify the freight forwarder in writing of the correct code so they can complete the export declaration correctly. This situation may apply to other countries outside the EC. You can view most countries’ tariff codes and duty rates by accessing the EU Market Access Database web-site (http://mkaccdb.eu.int); it is not on the worldwide web as access is restricted to EU companies only. 

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