British Exporters Associations (BExA)

The British Exporters Association (BExA) is an independent national trade association representing the
interests of the export community and exists as a lobbying, promoting, educating and networking
organisation for UK exporters and associated services providers. BExA seeks to promote the interests of
its members and all UK exporters, with a particular focus on trade finance and export credit insurance.

Membership of the Association is open to all companies and on organization basis, so any number of
staff can benefit from its range of member benefits. Membership fees start at just £175 per year.
Membership is corporate so every employee can access our services ranging from networking, legal
advice, best practice, and bespoke export guidance.

All membership applications are subject to approval by the BExA Council whose decision shall be final.
The Association may, if necessary, call for an audited statement of the number of employees or annual
turnover.

Online Membership
Member Login

Rules of Membership

 Membership of the Association is open to all companies and other organizations resident in the
United Kingdom who export goods or services, or who provide assistance to such companies in
the promotion and furtherance of export activities. (ref. Rule 4) [Individual members may,
exceptionally, be invited by Council into membership, subject to Rule 4 a) (i)]
 Applications for membership, which should be made via the BExA website, are subject to
approval by the Council, who have the right to refuse membership for any justifiable reason.
(ref. Rule 4)
 Membership is on an annual subscription basis. Subscription tiers and fees, which are
determined by the Council and reviewed annually, are set out on the BExA website (ref. Rule 8)
 Membership, which will commence following election and upon issuance of a fee invoice, shall
run for a minimum of 12 calendar months. No subscription or any part thereof shall be
refundable. In the event of any member failing to make payment within 30 days of an invoice
date, BExA may suspend such member from taking part in the business of the Association until
such payment may be made. [ref. Rule 8]
 Membership is on a continual basis, with the annual subscription fee automatically invoiced to
the member organisation the month prior to the renewal date. If a member wishes to resign
their membership, written notice must be provided to the BExA Secretariat no later than 1
month prior to the renewal date otherwise they will be liable for the subscription for the
ensuing year. (ref. Rule 8)
 Council shall have the right to expel any member whose conduct makes them no longer
acceptable as a member of the Association (subj. to Rule 7).
 In the event of resignation or expulsion, all assets or association of BExA membership should be
removed from member organisation material.
UK customs (Entry Summary Declaration or an Exit Summary Declaration):

The main customs form used in international trade is known as the Single Administrative Document
(SAR) — also known as form C88 in the UK. Traders, and agents can use the SAN to assist with declaring
import, export, transit and community status declarations in manual processing situations when
computer systems aren’t working. Alternatively, they can also follow the online procedures.

Before registration for export/import declaration, the exporters/importers shall have the following
documents:

 Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EQR] number starting with GB

 business date of establishment
 email address
 business or trading name
 business UTR if you are registered in the UK for tax purposes
 business address

How to register

To register to make an entry summary declaration in Great Britain, you need a Government Gateway
user ID and password. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you register.

After registration

You can submit Entry Summary Declarations by either:

1. Purchasing compatible software, i.e. by yourself. The traders need to purchase compatible
software from software developers. They will need a Government Gateway user ID and
password – if they do not have a user ID, they can create one when they register.
 2. Or, employing the services of a Community System Provider, i.e. hiring someone to deal with
customs for the traders.

You can hire a person or business to deal with customs for you, such as:

 Freight forwarders (Freight forwarders move goods around the world for importers. A freight
forwarder will arrange clearing your goods through customs. They’ll have the right software to
communicate with HMRC’s systems).
 Customs agents or brokers (Customs agents and brokers make sure your goods clear through
customs)
 Fast parcel operators (Fast parcel operators transport documents, parcels and freight across the
world in a specific time frame. They can deal with customs for you, as part of their delivery).

The traders need to provide the following documents to Community System Provider in order to get
help:

 evidence of the goods you’re importing or exporting, for example invoices or contracts
 evidence of any goods you intend to import or export, for example invoices or contracts
 a description of the goods you import or export
 for any goods which are restricted, you must ensure you have the appropriate licences or
certification
 to check the goods you intend import are eligible if you’re using simplified declaration processes
 your EORI number

The traders must provide written instructions on their behalf to the Community System Provider. The
instruction must show whether they’re acting for you directly or indirectly. They can act for you either
as:

 direct representative
 indirect representative

You can ask someone to act directly if you hold authorisation and are declaring goods for:

 inward processing
 outward processing
 temporary admission
 end-use relief
 private customs warehousing

If you hold authorisation for either simplified declaration procedures or entry in the declarant’s records,
you can ask someone to act in your name.

If you’re established in the UK and import goods into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) you
can ask someone to act directly using their own authorisation, to make declarations using:

 simplified declaration procedure

 entry in the declarant’s records
The person representing you directly and making declarations in your name will not be held jointly
liable. You should agree with the person dealing with customs for you if you need to have a duty
deferment account to make payments or if they’ll use their own.

Get someone to act indirectly

You can get someone to act for you in their own name, this means they’re:

 equally responsible for making sure the information is accurate

 jointly and severally liable for any Customs Duty or import VAT

If they have authorisation, you can get an indirect agent to make declarations using:

 simplified declaration procedures

 entry in the declarant’s records

If you’re not established in the UK and import goods into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
you can only ask someone to act indirectly on your behalf. You should agree with the person dealing
with customs for you if you need to have a duty deferment account to make payments or if they’ll use
their own.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-entry-summary-declaration

When to submit

Your full declaration must be made within 90 days of your goods being presented to customs.

You may be able to make a declaration up to 30 days before the arrival of your goods, but it will only be
formally accepted when they have actually arrived and been presented.

How to submit

Your declaration will need to include:

 customs procedure code

 commodity code
 your declaration unique consignment reference which is the main reference number that links
declarations in the Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system or Customs
Declaration Service

You also need to provide information like:

 Declaration Unique Consignment Reference (DUCR)

 departure point and destination
 consignee and consignor
 type, amount and packaging of your goods
 transport methods and costs
 currencies and valuation methods
 certificates and licences
