HMRC have informed of some very important data requirements for ENS declarations
The submission of Safety and Security declarations (ENS) for shipments entering Great Britain has been mandatory since January 2025.
Traders such as SGS have been submitting ENS declarations on behalf of their clients since that date.
HMRC have flagged some important points which should be considered when submitting ENS declarations to the S&S GB system.
SGS would like to make their clients aware of these points below.
1. Identity of means of transport crossing the border
For accompanied Roll on/Roll off and Channel Tunnel you must enter the Vehicle Registration Number, not holding values such as TRUCK.
2. Container or Trailer number
If a container or trailer is being moved the correct number must be entered in this field, not holding values such as TRAILER.
When it is a container being moved on a trailer the container number should be entered in preference to the trailer number.
It is the unique container or trailer number which identifies the container/trailer that should be entered.
The trailer number should be the trailer number registered with the respective national authority in the country of registration.
3. Place of Loading
For Accompanied RoRo and Channel Tunnel goods the place of loading is the freight terminal, warehouse or other place of loading of the trailer/container, which will be the active means of transport crossing the border. It should include the name of the warehouse or other place of loading and then the postcode.
For unaccompanied goods the place of loading is the port of departure/arrival. It should be the seaport, airport or freight terminal or place at which the goods were loaded onto the active means of transport that will cross the border.
4. Goods description
This should be a plain language description precise enough for Customs to be able to identify the goods without reference to other documentation.
It cannot be generic descriptions, tariff headings or trade part descriptors.
It must be in English.
General terms such as groupage, general cargo, auto parts or white goods must not be provided.
5. Countries of Routing
This should be shown from where the goods journey started, not the transport or consolidation points, detailing the full journey for the goods.
You must provide, in chronological order, the countries through which the goods are routed between the country of original departure and the country of final destination.
6. Expected date and time of arrival at customs office of first entry
The time must be GMT and show the scheduled date and time of arrival of means of transport, and not a generic time stamp such as 00:01 dd/mm/yyyy or a date and time that doesn’t match actual arrival.
For Channel tunnel (Road 3) arrival is at the Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles, France,
For sea, unaccompanied and accompanied RoRo it is arrival at the first port.
7. Customs Office of First Entry
For Dover sea traffic, including RoRo, you must use port code GB000040. Channel Tunnel (Road and Rail traffic) into Folkestone should be using port code GB000060.
In case of any questions, contact your local client centre.
