October 6, 2026

📌 ENS Compliance Deadline Passes as Enforcement Focus Increases

Carriers and intermediaries submitting Safety and Security (ENS) declarations for goods entering Great Britain face the prospect of increased enforcement action following the 30 September compliance deadline.

Businesses had been urged to address recurring data quality issues within ENS declarations, particularly information identifying the means of transport crossing the border and container or trailer numbers. Problems highlighted included the use of placeholder information and incorrect vehicle or trailer registration details.

Following the deadline, continued or persistent compliance failures may result in further action, including customs civil penalties. Government guidance states that enforcement will be evidence-based and proportionate, with the responsible carrier retaining the legal obligation to ensure that Safety and Security information is complete and accurate.

For carriers, hauliers and intermediaries submitting declarations on their behalf, the increased focus reinforces the importance of accurate source data and appropriate checks before an ENS declaration is submitted.

Improving declaration quality also supports more effective risk assessment at the border and reduces the potential for compliance issues to disrupt goods movements.

Source: HM Revenue & Customs, Safety and Security import requirements and industry compliance communications

📌 CDS 5.3 Now Live as Traders Adapt to New Validation Requirements

HMRC’s Customs Declaration Service (CDS) Release 5.3.0 went live on 26 September, introducing a range of changes to declaration processing and validation requirements.

The release includes updates affecting areas such as goods location codes, document and authorisation references, import and export declaration validations, and tariff-related requirements affecting certain Northern Ireland movements.

With the release now implemented, customs intermediaries, traders and software providers should ensure that declaration templates, standing data and system mappings reflect the latest CDS requirements.

The additional validations mean that data previously accepted within a declaration may now require different formatting, coding or supporting information. Businesses experiencing declaration rejections should therefore review the relevant CDS validation requirements and error messages before resubmission.

Questions have also been raised within the industry about declaration cancellations following the release. At present, however, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that these issues are directly attributable to CDS 5.3.0.

For businesses using CDS, the priority is to ensure internal processes and software remain aligned with the latest declaration requirements and to monitor HMRC guidance for any further technical updates.

Source: HM Revenue & Customs, Customs Declaration Service guidance and CDS Release 5.3.0 documentation

📌 Record Electric Van Registrations Still Fall Short of ZEV Mandate

The UK light commercial vehicle market recorded its strongest month of 2026 in September, but electric van uptake remains significantly below the level required under the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 49,704 new light commercial vehicles were registered during September, an increase of 4.8% compared with the same month last year.

Battery electric van registrations also reached a record monthly level, with 4,832 vehicles registered, up 13.4% year on year. Despite this growth, battery electric vehicles accounted for 9.6% of the van market during September and 10.8% across the year to date.

This remains less than half the 24% level required under the ZEV Mandate for 2026.

The SMMT has highlighted a number of barriers to faster adoption, including higher vehicle acquisition costs, delays in securing grid connections for commercial depots and insufficient public charging infrastructure suitable for vans.

For fleet and logistics operators, the figures highlight the continuing challenge of balancing decarbonisation targets with the commercial and infrastructure requirements involved in transitioning to zero-emission vehicles.

Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, September 2026 LCV registration figures.