Business West has become one of the first organisations in the country to use a revolutionary new on-line customs tool to help export goods from the UK. The Chamber of Commerce worked with Bristol-based exporters, Beyond the Bean, to use the new system, called Genesis, to validate the origin of their goods.
They are one of five Chambers of Commerce in the UK to be piloting the system which has been devised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to make customs checks quicker and easier.
Conrad Whiteley, International Sales Manager at Beyond the Bean, a specialist supplier of beverage products to the coffee sector within hospitality, said: “We are really honoured to be the first exporter in the UK to have been part of project Genesis and had our UK preferential origin statement for Ireland verified on the platform, to prove that we comply with the free trade agreement we have with the EU.
“Exports have always been key to Beyond the Bean and over the past 5 years that side of the business has grown from 24% to over 40% of our sales.
“Europe has always been a strong market and despite the challenges of Brexit and the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality sector we have seen growth of our business within Europe.
“In the future, the EU maybe become a more challenging market to do business with and we see Genesis as an essential tool to future proof the European market exporting process, making it more secure and smoother for all.”
Catherine Stephens, Head of International Trade Services at Business West, one of the UK’s leading Chambers of Commerce, said: “We process over 40,000 documents every year and preferential rules of origin can be very complex. Compliance and transparency are key for international trade and Genesis gives
both the exporter and importer comfort that claims have been validated by both Business West and the International Chambers of Commerce.”
James Monk, Commercial Director of Business West added: “Increasingly we are seeing overseas buyers questioning the validity of self-declarations when it comes to the complex topic of rules of origin and compliance. Using this solution reassures both manufacturers and buyers of compliance and builds upon the global reputation of Chambers of Commerce as independent third parties. It will reduce both the risks of human error and fraud. As our new Government agree more free trade agreements, this platform will provide clarity and certainty for the global supply chains.”
Martin van der Weide, Chair of the ICC Certificate of Origin Council said: “With the complexity of preferential rules of origin and the multiplication of Free Trade Agreements with different rules of origin, self-certification appears to be the only option. A mistake in the origin declaration by the exporter increases risk for the importer. We are pleased to have ICC taking the lead in creating this new tool, so that Chambers can help exporters and importers with their origin statements. It is all about compliance and clarity.”
Liam Smyth, Director of Trade Facilitation at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is great to see the Chamber Network and its member businesses leading the way on the future of digital trade. The potential Genesis has to make overseas trade for UK companies quicker and easier really is a game changer. In the current difficult economic conditions in which we find ourselves, this can only be a good thing.”
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