Until 2019, the Customs Handling of Import & Export Freight (CHIEF) was the computer system HMRC used to record all goods moving by land, air or sea. CHIEF allowed importers, exporters and freight forwarders to complete customs formalities electronically and calculate revenues due on those movements. HMRC closed its Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system on 30 September 2022 for any new import declarations, unless specific permission was sought from HMRC. From this date, all businesses have been required to declare imports through the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Export declarations can now also be made in CDS and will only be permitted in CHIEF until 30 Nov 2023, after which they will only be allowed to be made in CDS.
In summary services on CHIEF are being withdrawn in two planned stages:
30 Sep 2022: Import declarations not available to be made on CHIEF, only to be made in CDS hence.
30 Nov 2023: Export declarations not be made after this date on CHIEF / National Exports System (NES), only to be made on CDS hence.