Dutch Customs, Schiphol simplify e-commerce release

A new Dutch Customs declaration, VENUE, will help shippers more efficiently import and export their e-commerce traffic through Schiphol.    Dutch Customs and the Schiphol air cargo industry have rolled out a new simplified e-commerce declaration.
   The special declaration, VENUE, is designed to help shippers more efficiently import and export items that are being purchased via e-commerce websites – such as fashion, personal care and homeware – throughout the Union Customs Code transition period, which ends in January 2021.
   “The air cargo market is changing and we are seeing a huge increase in e-commerce parcels,” said Saskia van Pelt, business development director at Schiphol Cargo, in a statement. “At Schiphol we are focused on ensuring we continue to provide a high quality, efficient service for our e-commerce customers and VENUE will help us to do just that.”
   “The rise in e-commerce is changing the supply chain, and last year, we saw an increase of 15 percent in customs declarations, even though the volumes at Amsterdam remained stable,” said Alex Drost, AEO auditor at Dutch Customs.
   VENUE-authorized shippers are able to submit a pre-declaration leaving out one or more detalls, such as the Harmonized System (HS) code. Shipments valued at 22 euros (about $25) or less also require no supplementary declaration. These changes will help keep e-commerce shipments moving efficiently through the airport, Dutch Customs and Schiphol Cargo said.
   The VENUE declaration will be available until the third quarter of 2019.