Belgium Customs has launched BE-GATE, a digital platform to simplify e-commerce declarations for both import and export goods.
The initiative by the Belgium Customs and Excise Department is supported by the European country’s important e- commerce hubs, the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge and the airports of Brussels and Liege.
The free-of-charge portal is designed for processing large amounts of data and guarantees rapid clearance of customs applications. A high number of arrival notifications can be transmitted simultaneously via an officially customs approved form.
For shipments of less than or equal to €22, this form also serves as a declaration of release. For all other shipments, an additional declaration in the Belgian customs software solution PLDA (Paperless Customs & Excise) is required.
Retailers also automatically receive information on those shipments that have been selected for customs control. All other shipments are released immediately.
In addition, the software solution provides a recommendation for the concrete determination of the customs value on the basis of defined criteria, if the customs value cannot be determined by an alternative method.
The prerequisites are that the economic operator has a registered office in Belgium and a status as a customs agent. In addition, an intermediate warehouse or a location approved as a customs warehouse, the authorization for the use of the simplified declaration and a comprehensive guarantee are required.
Excise goods, goods subject to licenses and goods subject to special restrictions and control measures are excluded from the use of BE-GATE.
In export, BE-GATE can be used for shipments with a value of up to 1,000 euros and a weight of less than 1,000 kg. Otherwise, an additional declaration in PLDA is required
Werner Rens, head of marketing department, Belgium Customs and Excise, said: “With BE-GATE, we have developed an efficient and effective e-commerce tool that prevents delays in the supply chain due to lack of transparency and communication. A win-win solution that also facilitates our work as a customs authority.”
Luc Arnouts, director international networks, Port of Antwerp, said: “Digitalisation is part of the DNA of Europe’s second largest port. We expect BE-GATE to significantly simplify customs clearance and thus make Antwerp even more attractive as a location for e-commerce traffic.”
Patrick Van Cauwenberghe, business intelligence director, Port of Zeebrugge said: “The port of Zeebrugge will be able to play an ambitious, prominent role in e-commerce with the investment of the Lingang group in the Maritime Logistic Zone in Zeebrugge”.
Said Steven Verhasselt, vice president commercial, Liege Airport: “Liege Airport started as a pioneer in full cargo airports about 20 years ago hosting TNT’s global air hub. Since then many years of growth have led us to become Europe’s 7th biggest cargo airport connected to 12 Chinese cities by air and by rail.
“The express expertise is now fully deployed to accommodate large e-commerce flows and we expect BE-GATE to further optimize flows at Liege Airport.”
Steven Polmans, director cargo & Llogistics, Brussels Airport, said: “Brussels Airport offers a global network of both passenger belly hold, express and full cargo aircraft capacity. With our ongoing expansion and new warehouses under construction, we are ready for the growing business of e- commerce.
“BE-GATE will help us to be an even more attractive entry point for e-commerce thanks to its facilitation and transparency.”
