May 2023 Update: CDS Export Migrations (all ports)
As part of the HMRC transfer from CHIEF to CDS, you will need to migrate your solution to move from CHIEF export declarations to CDS export declarations.
To date we have been working with those who are using RoRo ports only as CDS has been ready and available to use for these ports. If you are using RoRo ports only, you should have already been communicated with and your migration should be planned and agreed.
For all other customers who use other ports, as per our previous news update from HMRC, the planned timescale to move to productive use of CDS is between September and November 2023. In this case you should have received an email from AEB with information about the migration. The information is as below.
The migration will comprise of 2 phases:
Phase 1 (Testing)
Between May and August 2023, you will need to complete your CDS Export migration testing. We anticipate this should take no longer than 3 weeks from start to finish. Once your testing is complete and AEB has confirmed acceptance of your tests, you will be able to select a date for go-live starting September.
Phase 2 (Cutover)
Between September and mid-November 2023, you will be able to select a date for cutover and go-live of your production system. We must migrate all systems to CDS for export declarations by mid-November. If you have not completed your testing phase by August, we may not be able to agree a go-live date before mid-November and you may be left without a supported solution, as CHIEF will be retired.
What does this mean for you?
The change-over will involve some commitment and time from yourself in order to understand and test the move from CHIEF to CDS declarations.
- Review and understand the migration approach for your AEB software. This can be accessed by the link here: CDS Export Migration Guide
- Gain an understanding of HMRC's CDS for exports requirements and changes compared to CHIEF. The links at the end of this message will provide more details from HMRC about this. Please review and, as applicable, seek external CDS knowledge training. We recommend you undertake this step urgently.
- Plan for a period of testing your AEB Customs Management solution with links to CDS. HMRC is looking to see that customers have performed appropriate tests successfully before moving systems linked to CDS into production. If your processes are complex and/or you declare a variety of procedures or product types, it may be worth starting to collate a list of these for testing purposes.
- If you are integrating to AEB via API, prepare for possible modifications to the data you are sending in line with HMRC’s changed requirements for CDS.
- Plan for some downtime in your production environment during the migration (up to ½ a day) for cutover from Customs Management with CHIEF to Customs Management with CDS. This may include managing your exports accordingly to cater for this downtime once you are in the position to go live with Customs Manangement with CDS.
CDS is different to CHIEF in its data structure and status messaging, and CDS data requirements differ from those that you may be familiar with in CHIEF. As a result, you need to prepare for changing the data you enter or for making modifications to your templates within Customs Management.
Next step: Schedule Phase 1
Once you have a plan for the above points, please follow the link below and complete the form to select your preferred week to start the migration testing work. We have a limit on the numbers we can start each week. We will do our best to accommodate the week you select, but we may need to communicate with you if we are oversubscribed in certain weeks. We strongly recommend starting as soon as you can.
After we have received your submitted form and selection, we will contact you to confirm your selected date. You can find further information in our Help Center on the AEB CDS Migration page.
Comments
This article relating to the switch from CHIEF to CDS has now been updated. The migration of imports has now been completed, and details are now shown regarding the migration of exports.
This article has been updated with regards to the HMRC announcement of the change to the CDS exports migration deadline, issued 15th November 2022.
Date correction applied.
Article is closed for comments.