The voice of the wine and spirit industry

Logistics and Customs

We work with relevant authorities to facilitate trade and the efficient movement of wine and spirits by businesses.   This includes liaising with HM Revenue and Customs and other bodies on a wide range of technical issues relating to the calculation and payment of alcohol duties, and the import and export of goods. The WSTA also tackles alcohol fraud, from which losses across beer, wine, and spirits are estimated to be as high as £1 billion a year.

Excise Movement and Control System
The WSTA has worked with HMRC on the implementation of the new Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS).  EMCS is a computer system which captures and processes information in respect of all movements of excise goods in duty suspension within the European Union.  From 1 January 2011, EMCS replaced the old paper system for all UK traders dispatching or receiving duty suspended excise goods to and from EU Member States.    We have worked in consultation with our members on the WSTA Logistics Group to communicate and resolve with HMRC the inevitable implementation issues that can arise from the wholesale changeover to a new system.

Preparation for the Olympic Games
Whilst the Olympic Games in 2012 offers opportunities for businesses, road closures during the games have the potential to disrupt deliveries to and by businesses operating in London. No traffic, other than designated Olympic Route Network traffic and emergency vehicles will be given access to roads to the Olympic venues between specific hours throughout the duration of the games and for a short period before and after. The Olympic Delivery Authority is keen to engage with businesses and the WSTA will continue to liaise with them to ensure freight transport can continue to deliver to central London during the Games.

Alcohol Fraud
Alcohol fraud damages the livelihood of honest businesses.  We have been working with HMRC to help it understand how alcohol becomes available to criminals and agree practical steps the industry and government can take to prevent fraud in the supply chains. Evidence suggests that the nature of fraud is changing.  Criminals are increasingly turning their attention away from spirits─ after concerted action to stem this─ towards beer and wine.  Whilst in the past relatively small quantities of alcoholic drinks were smuggled into the UK for onward sale, organised criminals have progressively moved to exploit weaknesses in the systems that allow the free movement of goods in the EU.