Businesses that have imported goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls over the last three months, that have been eligible for checks at the border control post (BCP) in Sevington, will receive their first common user charge (CUC) invoices from 10pm this evening (5 August).
The CUC invoices will be issued by Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL) for the period of 30 April 2024 – when new SPS controls were introduced as part of the second phase of the Border Target Operating Model – to 31 July 2024.
Organisations will receive their invoices from the email address O2C.mail@gov.sscl.com with ‘Defra invoice’ as the email subject heading. From now on, digital invoices will be issued and emailed on a monthly basis in arrears, with CUCs covering the previous month.
Immediate payments
The invoice will state that payment is due “immediately” and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) says it is encouraging this “because the charges are applied in arrears”.
“However, bill payers, including agents who are acting on behalf of businesses, will have up to 30 days from the date on the invoice to pay the common user charges,” Defra has said. Payment for invoices issued today will therefore be due by 4 September 2024.
From tomorrow (6 August), SSCL will be the “first point of contact” for CUC-related queries and contact details will be included on the invoice.
‘Long-awaited’
Anna Doherty, a senior customs and trade specialist at the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, urged businesses to ensure they understand the risk categorisations and charging structures for their goods.
“The issuing of invoices has been long-awaited by traders as the charges have been applicable from 30 April 2024, but importers and declarants have not yet seen any invoices for the CUC which is applicable to SPS goods arriving via Port of Dover or Eurotunnel.
“While the government has previously published the charging schedule, it requires those making pre-notifications on IPAFFS to understand both the risk categorisation of their goods as well as the charging structure and we have seen issues around both subjects.”
Defra added that it will be hosting a webinar on CUC invoices and compliance on 13 August, which you can register for here.
