CDS Community™ Membership Level One

The Customs Declaration Service (CDS) is a new system introduced by HMRC to replace CHIEF for import and export customs declarations. From the overall logic of the system to the codes used, CDS is completely different to CHIEF, meaning everyone will have to understand the new information and rules for when CDS is fully operational, whether you do the customs entries yourself or use an intermediary to do them. 

Why a Community? Traders have trusted Strong & Herd for 26 years in all matters relating to customs and international trade. We have been involved in the system testing of CDS and already use it for customs entries, alongside supporting companies who are using CDS today. We want to share our understanding of the new system, prepare businesses for the new information that will be required and, as a Community, encourage members to learn from the issues and challenges faced by other CDS users. HMRC have released a new Volume 3 of the Customs Tariff covering the information and codes needed to make successful CDS customs entries and it is significantly different from what you may be used to. Our aim is to educate and share our understanding, which is why a dedicated CDS Community™ is important.

To supplement the knowledge gained from our public and in-house CDS Technical workshops, the CDS Community™ provides ongoing practical, clear advice and assistance for importers , exporters , agents and those that are completing their own declarations. 

CDS Community™ Membership Level 1

The Level 1 annual subscription service connects you to our CDS technical team for CDS enquiries, as well as all your other import, export, and international trade questions. Standard questions will be addressed within a maximum of 24 hours, as per our OneCall™ helpline service, but specific CDS questions will be set as Priority 1 and will be addressed immediately (during working hours). Via the CDS Community™ we will guide and support you and your business to the correct places for information, reinforce your understanding of procedures and be there if/when things don’t go right.

• Covers 8 hours of e-mail helpline support for CDS and other customs and trade questions.

• Ability to call off two 60 minute sessions with a CDS specialist one-to-one.

• Invitation to join our CDS dedicated briefings

• Access to S&H Members Area of the website, plus the CDS Community™ Area, where specific CDS resources, along with the recordings of the CDS briefings will be available.

• Places on our dedicated CDS Clinics and access to the recordings

Also includes:

• Invitation to join our CDS dedicated Briefings, as well as the UK Customs & Trade Briefings.

• Discounts on all other S&H public training sessions, in-line with OneCall™ membership.

• Regular information e-mails, such as the 'Did You Know?' updates and specific CDS Updates.

• Access to S&H Members Area of the website, plus the CDS Community™ Area, where specific CDS guidance, along with the recordings of the CDS clinics and CDS briefings will be available.

What’s included in the package?

CDS Helpline Service - Priority Response
Have the Strong & Herd expert team available on tap to answer your CDS queries. Whether you need assistance with a declaration, you are unsure of how to read the CDS Tariff or you are stuck with one of the new document codes, our team is ready to assist. Send an email to our dedicated address, and your query will be automatically assigned to an available expert. CDS enquiries are automatically given high priority.  You can also use the helpline for none CDS related import, export, customs, and international trade questions as the CDS Community™ incorporates all the OneCall™ services which means you don’t have to subscribe to a separate helpline service.  Strong & Herd will support all your international trade and customs requirements within the CDS Community™.

CDS Specialist One-to-Ones
At S&H our aim is to share knowledge and know-how. As a member of our CDS Community™, you will be able to access specialist one-to-ones, where we will answer your questions on specific scenarios. If you prefer, you can share your screen and we will assist you with live declarations on the system you are using, be that TSS, your own software or the HMRC CDS Export portal.

CDS Training
Whether you are an experienced declarant or totally new to this sector, you will find an appropriate course for you in our catalogue. You can start with our introduction to import and export courses, attend the CDS modules and finally complement your knowledge with specific modules on declaring complex commodities. CDS Community™ members also receive the OneCall™ member discount on other import, export, and international trade public training courses.

CDS Briefings
You will be invited to join regular CDS briefings, as well as our normal UK Customs & Trade Briefings, where we share the latest news on CDS with the members of our community.  Questions and comments during the sessions are encouraged and we will be bringing information on the developments that may affect you the most. Briefings will be recorded and shared with all CDS Community™ members.

CDS Clinics
Available free to CDS Community™   There will be regular clinics, during which our experts will concentrate on different topics, with the aim to provide an opportunity to learn and understand the information needed to make customs declaration via CDS, to support you as a trader on understanding the new information required by the customs brokers and intermediaries and how to check the new customs entry documents and the new on-line reports expected to replace the MSS Reports.  Bring real case scenarios or join to learn from other members’ experiences. Make sure you get the most out of your subscription.  All sessions will be recorded and available in our CDS Community™ area of the website.