Whether you've enjoyed the new Kent border jokes over the last few days or not, the Kent access permit, or Kermit, is an interesting concept.

Is this something other countries do too? How does it differ from normal procedures? Why do we need it?

/1 https://www.thenational.scot/news/18743159.brexit-reckoning-coming-kent-borders-not-half/

No, it's not normal.

And there is a simple reason for it.

For exports, information is generally provided in advance. You get a purchase order, you pack the goods, you submit and export and exit declarations in one and you send your goods away. Simples.

/2

With last-minute orders, there might be a bit more pressure but it's still doable.

Worth mentioning - trucks don't normally show at the border with no paperwork and hoping to export goods.

/3

Like with imports, with exports the data is submitted in advance and electronically (in most cases, though that depends on the country).

It's a fairly simple process. The problems are usually on the other side - with imports.

So why do we need this now?

/4

Again it's a very simple answer. The only reason we need a Kent permit is because the Gov is expecting that a significant percentage of drivers, hauliers, traders etc won't know what to do, will be completely caught off guard and unprepared.

/5

So much so that it would lead to "chaos in Kent". Long lines of trucks with no paperwork, upset drivers on every car park and road in Kent and very unhappy local residents. It would also make managing access to ports very difficult.
A situation we're trying to avoid.

/6

But here's the thing - the only reason we need that is because of how unprepared we are for dealing with standard customs formalities on our side.

Lack of clear processes, lack of IT systems, parties unsure what they need to do and when.

/7

Imagine all the guidance and IT sys would have been ready in June. We would have had 6 months to test and prepare. To train users, to answer questions. To create back up processes.

/8

There would still have been a risk of trucks showing up unprepared but not in numbers that could paralyse the whole system.

In other words -we need the Kent permit cause we seriously messed up despite the fact we had a clear deadline.

/9

Does it actually prevent trucks without all the necessary paperwork showing up at the port and being turned back?

What do you need to do to ensure the driver of the truck where your goods are has a Kermit?

/10

According to from Peter - no. The Smart Freight System is really more of a "have you thought about this" checklist rather than an actual verification system.

That was meant to be GVMS, which is coming... eventually.

/11 https://twitter.com/pmdfoster/status/1308873700805169154

So in very simple terms - Kermit is a patch-up. Necessary at this point but a totally avoidable fix for a problem we created by not acting on time.

/ends