Customs Practitioners Group


 

| © 2006 CPG | legal disclaimer |

Meetings archive

See meetings for details of the format and membership fees.

 

2007 ….

2006 ….

2005 ….

2004 ....

2003 ....

2002 ....

2001 ....

2000 ....


Meetings in 2007

 

Thursday 08 November 2007 (AGM) ....

Thursday 13 September 2007 ....

Thursday 12 July 2007 ....

Thursday 10 May 2007

Thursday 08 March 2007 ....

Thursday 11 January 2007

 

Thursday 08 November 2007 - AGM

Speaker:  Dave Allen of the National Audit Office

Venue: BDO Stoy Hayward, 8 Baker Street, London W1U 3LL

 

Dave Allen and Daniel Fairhead gave a presentation about their Value For Money Study: The Facilitatation and Control of Imports. There was a useful exchange of views 

All of the AGM items were adopted and Mark Corby was elected as a Council Member.  

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 13 September 2007

Speaker: Paul Riley, Head of Alcohol and Tobacco Duties Policy, HM Revenue & Customs.

Venue: Laytons Solicitors, London

 

Our guest speaker was Paul Riley, Head of Alcohol and Tobacco Duties Policy, HM Revenue & Customs.  Paul gave an informed presentation on the current UK and EU strategy for fighting fraud and attempting to simplify and modernise current law and procedures.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 12 July 2007

Speaker: Mike Weeding, Senior Adviser, Drugs and Security Border Team, HMR&C,

Venue: Hassan Khan Solicitors, 48/49 Russell Square, London WC1B 4JY

 

Mike gave a comprehensive presentation covering the role of HMRC in the global trade supply chain and future developments as far as security aspects were concerned.

As usual there was a lively exchange of views.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 10 May 2007

Speaker: Kevin Costelloe, Head of Customs Policy & Strategy, HM Revenue & Customs

Venue: Pricewaterhouse Coopers, London

 

Kevin Costelloe informed the members of current changes within the Department and stimulated a lively discussion on AEOs, trader education and other matters.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 08 March 2007

Speaker: Chris Jones, SO of HMRC National Clearance Hub, Salford

Venue: Malmaison Hotel,  Manchester

 

Chris Jones of HMRC's National Clearance Hub in Salford gave a very interesting and honest talk about the trials and tribulations of the new hub and members discussed various issues afterwards.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 11 January 2007

Speaker:  Doug Tweddle CBE, Director Frontiers & International, HMRC

Venue: Clifford Chance, 10 Upper Bank Street, London, E14 5JJ 

  

Doug gave an interesting speech about developments since the Customs merger with the Revenue.  He indicated that 'electronic' interface between HMRC and the trade will continue to be encouraged and form the basis of compliance.

In future the concept of a 'Single View' will be promoted within HMRC so that traders do not have to contend with a series of visits from the same organisation.

There was insufficient time to discuss the 'Constitution' so this will be covered at a later meeting. In the meantime members are encouraged to input their views to the 'Forum' on the website.

 

.... back to top

 

 

Meetings in 2006

Thursday 09 November 2006 (AGM) ....

Thursday 14 September 2006 ....

Thursday 13 July 2006 ....

Thursday 11 May 2006 ....

Thursday 09 March 2006 ....

Thursday 12 January 2006 ....

 

Thursday 09 November 2006

Speaker:  Graham Brown - Manager, HMRC, Frontiers and International Trade

Baker & McKenzie, 100 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6JA

 

Graham gave an interesting talk about the introduction of the Authorised Economic Operators scheme, possibly on 1 January 2008. A lively question and answer session followed. At the formal AGM the Chairman's Report and Accounts were presented and Paul Ellis was re-elected to the Council.

 

.... back to top

 

 

Thursday 14 September 2006

Speaker:  no speaker

BDO Stoy Hayward LLP, 8 Baker Street, London W1U 3LL

 

Several members gave details of meetings attended and there was a lively discussion about the Reviews and Appeals process, AEOs, PAPD, etc.

Members were reminded that the old password system for the Members Forum had been 'switched-off' and only valid individual passwords could now be used on the website.

During the meeting the Chair presented Adam Taylor with a trophy as winner of the CPG 2006 Golf Tournament.  

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 13 July 2006

Speaker:  Paul Robbins – Manager, Frontiers Customer Unit, Imports/Exports Team, HMR&C

Grant Thornton, 8th Floor, Grant Thornton House, Melton Street, Euston Square, London NW1 2EP

 

Our guest speaker for the evening was Paul Robbins, a Senior Manager within HMR&C Policy Division responsible for GSP.  Paul gave an excellent presentation on the proposed new EC rules for GSP origin goods.  The changes, which have yet to be approved by the Commission and presented in a formal proposal, are far reaching and will impact substantially on GSP exporters as well as EU importers.

 

There was also a brief discussion on the latest amendments to the Community Customs Code.

 

.... back to top

 

 

Thursday 11 May 2006

Speaker:  Tim Cornell – National Functional Manager of the ITDLO network, HMR&C

Hassan Khan & Co Solicitors, 10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG

 

Tim gave an interesting speech' about developments in the International Trade sector. He covered TEEL (Trader Education, Enabling and Leverage) which is the latest concept to be introduced by HMRC and other business related topics.

He anticipated a 'Single Window' website covering most aspects of International Trade would be available from November 2006. 

.... back to top

 

 

Thursday 09 March 2006

Speaker:  Laura Pellington, HMR&C

Laytons Solicitors, Carmelite, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0LS

 

Laura Pellington is a member of the EPU Modernisation Project Team and came to speak to members about the latest plans for the single UK clearance site and the closure of local entry processing units.

 

There was also a presentation by Joe O’Connor on the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill and its implications for the movement of goods in and out of the UK – including trade with other EU Member States. 

.... back to top

 

 

Thursday 12 January 2006

Speaker:  Karen Rourke – Head of Review and Appeals Team, HMR&C

Clifford Chance, 4 Coleman Street, London EC2R

 

There was a lively exchange of views between Karen and Members about the role of her team. Also discussed was the handling of CPG enquiries, the revision of the Customs Code, proposed changes to the Website and the implications of a recent tariff classification ruling. 

.... back to top

 

Meetings in 2005

Thursday 10 November 2005 (AGM)

Thursday_08_September_2005

Thursday_14_July_2005 ....

Thursday_12_May_2005 ....

Thursday_10_March_2005 ....

Thursday_13_January_2005

 

Thursday 10 November 2005 - AGM

Speaker: David Varney, Chairman of HMR&C

Hammonds, London EC2

 

Our guest speaker was David Varney, Chairman of HM Revenue & Customs and he was accompanied by Kevin Franklin who is the recently appointed Head of Frontiers.  David gave a presentation on the newly formed HMR&C and how he envisaged the two old Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise Departments would integrate.  David took questions from the floor and specific questions on Customs operations in the new Department were referred to Kevin Franklin.

 

The formal business of the AGM followed.  The Chairman’s Report and the Accounts were presented.  Hassan Khan stood down from his post as Secretary and Graham Jenkins was elected in his place.  Barbara Scott stood down as Treasurer and Mike Hodge was elected in her place.  Mike Hodge retired as CPG Chairman and Barbara Scott was elected as Chairman.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 08 September 2005

Speaker: Colin Davis of HMRC

PriceWaterhouseCoopers

1 Embankment Place, London WC2

 

The guest speaker was Colin Davis of HMRC who gave a very helpful and informative presentation covering the latest issues on the proposed Modernised Customs Code, the security amendments to the current Customs Code and the IPR problem of wrong CPCs being declared at export.  Mr. Davis answered many difficult questions from the floor!

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 14 July 2005

This meeting has been cancelled.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 12 May 2005

Speaker:  no speaker

Clifford Chance

4 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5JJ

 

The main focus of the meeting was a very informative presentation by one of our members, Phil Challen of GE International Inc., on the Customs Code Seminar that took place in Budapest on 10th and 11th March 2005.

 

The meeting was well attended and there was a lively discussion about various aspects of the proposed Modernised Code.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 10 March 2005

Speaker: David Rowe Francis, Senior Money Laundering Advisor to the Law Society

Hassan Khan Solicitors

10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG

 

David Rowe Francis gave an excellent summary of the Money Laundering Regulations and how they affect professional advisors.

 

There was a preview of matters to be discussed at the JCCC meeting the following week, an update on the Customs Code Rewrite and the affect of the Commission’s decision in the Weir Pumps remissions case.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 13 January 2005

Speaker: Martin Peach, Director of Detection, HM Customs & Excise

Chiltern plc

3 Sheldon Square, Paddington, London W2 6PS

 

Martin Peach, an ex-chairman of the Joint Customs Consultative Committee (JCCC) and now in charge of the part of the Department that finds and destroys illicit goods, spoke to members about the changing face of the frontier following 9/11. The three agencies, Customs, Immigration and Special Branch, are working together to enhance border security but also want to eliminate multiple border controls. There are a number of new initiatives under way, including the change, from 1st April 2005, for all Customs frontier activities to be carried out by Detection staff rather than regular Customs & International Trade staff.

 

The Chairman then provided an update on the JCCC meeting held in December 2004, which led to a number of discussions on consultation, including the Customs Code rewrite.

 

.... back to top

 

Meetings in 2004

Thursday 11 November 2004 (AGM)

Thursday 9 September 2004

Thursday 8 July 2004

Thursday 13 May 2004

Thursday 11 March 2004

Thursday 8 January 2004

 

 

Thursday 11 November 2004

AGM

SITPRO

Oxford House, 76 Oxford Street, London W1D 1BS

 

1)            AGM

 

                                -               Financial Report

                                -               Chairman’s Report

                                -               Graham Jenkins re-elected as Council Member

 

2)            No Speaker – open forum

 

                                Matters Discussed

 

                                -               Binding Tariff Rulings and other tariff classification issues

                                -               Re-write of Customs Code and CPG input

 

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 9 September 2004

Guest Speaker:  Lesley Deeks, HM Customs & Excise

Laytons

Carmelite, 50 Victoria Embankment, Blackfriars, London EC4Y 0LS

 

Lesley Deeks from Customs and International Trade Policy, gave a very useful and informative presentation on the proposed security changes to the current Customs Code and the latest proposals for the new Community Customs Code.  These proposals will have a significant affect on traders (and customs authorities) throughout the Community.  This is a fantastic opportunity for business to mould the EU customs legislation of the future.

 

Other matters discussed included the current problems with NCTS and the HMC&E website.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 8 July 2004

Guest Speaker:  Alistair Bridgeman, HM Customs & Excise

 

Irwin Mitchell

150 Holborn, London EC1N 2NS

 

Alistair Bridgeman, Deputy Head of Customs and International Trade Operations, gave an interesting presentation on the roles and responsibilities of Customs Headquarters and the challenges ahead: new Code, SAD harmonisation, E-Vision and the merger with the Inland Revenue.

 

Gordon Cragge also gave a presentation on the commercial awareness seminars that have been run for the Customs Department.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 13 May 2004

Guest Speakers:  Stephen Oliver QC, Chairman of the VAT & Duties Tribunals AND Theodore Wallace,Tribunal Chairman

 

Clifford Chance

4 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5JJ

 

Our guest speakers were His Honour Stephen Oliver QC, the President of the VAT and Duties Tribunals and Theodore Wallace who is a full time chairman of the VAT and Duties Tribunal. 

 

Mr Oliver opened the meeting by informing members that it was 10 years since the Tribunal Service had been open to hearing duty cases – and there had been only 185 decisions!  There was much discussion as to why more cases had not been taken to the Tribunal and most of the meeting was taken up with this lively debate which also encompassed a proposal by SITPRO to set up a task force to look at the costs to business of the review and appeals process.

 

The demise of HM Customs & Excise – to become HM Revenue & Customs from 1 September 2004 – was noted.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 11 March 2004

Guest Speaker:

Hammond Suddards

7 Devonshire Square, Cutlers Gardens, London EC2M 4YH

 

Our guest speaker was unable to attend and there had been insufficient time to arrange another official speaker.  It was therefore a good opportunity for members to take the floor.

 

1.               Brian McLaughlin gave a presentation on Autelligence.

 

2.               Georg Eder spoke about life as a German Customs consultant.

 

3.               Phil Challen discussed the money laundering regulations introduced in the UK on 1st March 2004 and their effect on tax consultants.

 

4.               Ernest Grayston reported on NCTS.

 

5.               There was a discussion on Tribunal procedures led by Jeremy White.

 

6.               Paul Ellis reported on the Tariff User Group.

 

7.               Mike Hodge gave a briefing on the previous day’s JCCC meeting.

 

 

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 8 January 2004

Guest Speaker: Chris Tailby, Director Tax Practice HMC&E

BDO Stoy Hayward

8 Baker St, London W1

 

Chris Tailby had joined HM Customs & Excise (again) from PwC in 2002.  At PwC, Chris had been a VAT partner and his main focus to date in HM Customs & Excise had been in respect of VAT.  Chris discussed the organisation of UK Customs and explained that, at present, there were various reviews of its operations and organisation.  He talked about the legal and technical training given to staff and we discussed the differences between the VAT and Customs & International Trade Departments and the reasons for those differences.

 

Members then had brief reports from meetings with Customs at which the CPG had been represented:

 

·Blueprint Service Options Working Group

·NCTS

·Tariff User Group

·Small Business Unit

 

There was also a discussion on the new UK Civil Penalty Regime, which was introduced on 23 December 2003.

 

.... back to top

 

Meetings in 2003:

Thursday 12 November 2003 (AGM)

Thursday 11 September 2003

Thursday 10th July 2003

Thursday 8th May 2003

Thursday 13th March 2003

Thursday 9th January 2003

 

Thursday 12 November 2003

AGM Guest Speaker Bob Eagle of Customs (assisted by Guy Westhead)

Baker Tilly

2 Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1B 3FT 

 

The guest speaker was Bob Eagle of Customs (assisted by Guy Westhead). Bob gave a presentation on Customs International Trade/Strategic Overview of Progress towards the Blueprint and answered several questions from members.

 

Hassan Kahn gave an update on the Customs Civil Penalties legislation and Andrew Hart reported back from the latest JCCC meeting. Malcolm Grant gave an overview of the Service Options Working Group, which is part of the Blueprint Project. 

 

At the AGM Mike Hodge, Barbara Scott and Paul Ellis were re-elected for another term of office.

 

 

.... back to top  

 

Thursday 11 September 2003

Guest Speaker Mark Hughes, Project Manager, Customs & International Trade Policy

Laytons

Carmelite, 50 Victoria Embankment, EC4

 

Mark Hughes of HM Customs & Excise attended this meeting to discuss EU Enlargement in 2004 and the transitional Customs measures that are to apply.  He presented a Commission working paper and there was a debate about many issues relating to the ten new Member States that are to join the EU on 01 May 2004.

 

Other issues discussed at the meeting included the new UK VAT Accounting Procedure known as SIVA and the methodologies adopted by Customs Tariff Classification review officers.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 10th July 2003

Guest Speaker Alan Froy from C&E’s Tariff Classification Division

Baker & McKenzie

100 New Bridge St London EC4V 6JA

 

Our speakers were Alan Froy, head of the UK Tariff Classification Service, and Steve Gaikward, the UK representative on the WCO Nomenclature Committee.

 

Alan and Steve discussed many interesting issues including the procedures of the EU Nomenclature Committees, the difficulties to be overcome with EU Enlargement, the EU BTI database, revocation of BTIs and independent Customs reviews of BTIs.

 

Other issues debated this evening were: -

 

                                -               EPU Modernisation - the centralisation of a number of Customs activities.

 

                                -               EU Enlargement.

 

                                -               SIVA - Simplified import VAT accounting.

 

 

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 8th May 2003

Guest Speaker John Overton - WTO Unit of the Trade Policy Directorate at DTI

Baker Tilly

2 Bloombsury Street London WC1

 

Our guest speaker was John Overton from the WTO Unit of the Trade Policy Directorate at the Department of Trade and Industry. 

 

John gave an informative talk about the WTO Dispute Settlement Body and the current trade disputes between the US and the EU which may be of significant consequence for UK importers.  John emphasised that retaliation measures were not often enforced but companies must be aware of these matters and lobby for their own protection.

 

Other general matters were discussed at the meeting including the demise of DAVIS, the JCCC and the handling of duty remission cases.

 

 

.... back to top 

 

Thursday 13th March 2003

Clifford Chance

200 Aldersgate St London EC1

 

1.

New Members

 

Only one potential member, Martyn Fiddler.

 

 

2.

Matters Arising

 

No response to letters sent to Gordon Brown, etc about DAVIS; only from Cheryl Gillam. No response from Bob Eagle to invite to a lunchtime meeting.

 

 

3.

Topics for Discussion

 

There was no guest speaker but the usual lively discussion on a number of issues, including,

 

-               Hassan Khan gave short presentation about the implementation of Civil Penalties in the Customs area. The 'James Robinson Fibres' case was mentioned and it was decided to put details on the website.

-               Paul Ellis spoke about the operations of the Tariff User Group. There was a need to up-date the Contacts List of Customs personnel attending various meetings. Also, it would be useful to get Alan Froy to speak at a future CPG meeting.

-               Graham Jenkins gave a short update on EPU Modernisation, indicating many issues still need resolving with the trade.  In his view another meeting should be arranged with Customs, in the near future.

-               Ernest Grayston gave an update on NCTS. He gave a summary of the current state of play and stated only e-mail routes would be allowed for the transmission of data. It was hoped the system would be fully electronic by June 2005. He felt it would eventually be a better system than the current CT arrangements.

-               In Phil Challen's absence The Chairman read a note of Phil's observations about the 'new' Customs website. He felt the website was most useful and informative. There were some shortcomings, mainly relating to the poor 'Search' facility but members were encouraged to use the site more frequently. The current site would probably close on 30/6/2003 when a new site would commence (with a new search engine). Members were encouraged to contact Phil with any comments.

 

 

4.

Any Other Business

 

There were references to,

 

-               CTPAT - Members advised to contact Sarah Wolstenhome, Customs (0208654761) for details.

 

-               Pre-audit Questionnaire - being issued by Customs to traders in Hertfordshire. Also in Swindon.

 

-               JCCC Meeting on 19/3/03 - Details of items on the agenda were discussed. It appears there are no plans to disband the JCCC, at the moment.

 

.... back to top

 

Thursday 9th January 2003

Guest Speaker - John Healey MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury

 

Irwin Mitchell

150 Holborn, London EC1

 

John Healey MP, the Government Minister responsible for HM Customs & Excise, attended this meeting to give a presentation to CPG members and answer questions from the floor.  Issues covered included consultation, Customs modernisation, the risks to both HMC&E and compliant business of fraudulent and incompetent traders and the future enlargement of the EU.

 

It is hoped that this meeting will set the scene for more regular dialogue between the Minister and the CPG.

 

 

.... back to top

 

Meetings in 2002:

Thursday 14th November

Thursday 12th September

Thursday 11th July

Thursday 9th May

Thursday 14th March

Thursday 10th January

 

Thursday 14th November 2002

AGM - Guest speaker Maurice Kingdom, Head of International Trade Operations

 

BDO Stoy Hayward

8 Baker Street, London W1U 3LL

 

Maurice Kingdon, Head of International Trade Operations, HMC&E, gave an interesting and informed presentation on the key business aims of the operational side of the organisation.  He talked about some of the changes that were affecting traders, such as DAVIS, NES etc., but also about some of the internal changes that, it is hoped, will improve the relationship with traders and help them to be more compliant.

 

.... back to top