DHL Freight has announced the introduction of a new customs clearance service with the aim of making shipping into the European Union for non-EU companies and their end-customers more convenient. As of now, the service is available for shipments coming into Europe via The Netherlands. With an automated inbound solution developed by DHLs Freight customs division, Gerlach, non-EU companies are now expected to be able to sell their products on the European market without having to build up their own infrastructure. Consumers who make purchases online from companies that are based outside the European Union but use DHL Freight’s new service, are now expected to get their goods delivered at home instead of having to pick them up at the customs office and pay import tax on-site.
According to the announcement, the newly launched service is designed to facilitate imports into the European Union for non-EU shippers, who are expected to benefit from low value duty and tax threshold for bulk shipments and consequently should be able to provide their own customers with a clear cost structure from the very beginning. The solution is based on a number of prerequisites: Power of Attorney for Gerlach, VAT registration and seller’s shipping data.
Amadou Diallo, CEO DHL Freight, said, “With the global business environment constantly changing, many countries are becoming increasingly stringent when it comes to goods transportation across borders,” Diallo added, “To partner with a trusted customs provider, which is able to handle the entire customs processing is crucial for companies’ success, particularly when it comes to tapping into markets where they do not have a physical presence.”
The solution has already been successfully implemented and is being used by shippers from Asia and the US. Consignments are being consolidated and shipped via air and ocean to DHL’s gateway in The Netherlands. An integrated inbound clearance procedure is expected to enable direct distribution of parcels and pallets to clients across Europe.
Source: DHL Freight
