The Benefits of an External Temporary Storage Facility (ETSF)
Supporting high-value, luxury and time-sensitive goods with safer, faster, inland customs clearance.
Could an External Temporary Storage Facility (ETSF) be the answer to post-transition UK import clearance chaos?
The increase in customs checks and declarations through UK ports continues to create delays, congestion and uncertainty, especially for industries handling time-critical or high value goods such as luxury items, fine art, antiques, collectables and other specialist cargo.
For these sectors, the risks of leaving valuable goods exposed at the border, even briefly, are now too significant to ignore. But how can an ETSF help both just-in-time industries and the luxury goods sector stay ahead of the game?
Moving the border inland
With an ETSF located at your business site, away from the port, the entire customs process can be significantly accelerated and controlled.
Instead of goods waiting in unpredictable border environments, they can be moved directly to your secure site (your warehouse, distribution centre or specialist storage facility), where inspections can take place under your control and the customs formalities are managed inland.
Why this matters for luxury goods and high-value cargo
As forwarders adopt ETSF to safeguard luxury cargo, offering one is becoming a key differentiator in this competitive space. An ETSF are becoming a preferred option for forwarders and logistics providers serving premium sectors because they:
- Reduce risk exposure
- Luxury goods, fine art and antiques avoid extended periods in congested, uncontrolled port environments. - Enhance client confidence
- Premium clients, galleries, auction houses, collectors, luxury retailers, increasingly expect this level of protection. - Support just-in-time logistics
- By moving customs inland, clearance becomes more predictable and less dependent on port congestion. - Provide breathing room
- With up to 90 days of temporary storage under customs supervision, clients can complete valuations, licensing, documentation or condition reporting without the pressure of border deadlines. - Protect asset integrity
- Goods arrive into a cleaner, safer, more controlled environment, minimising environmental, handling and security risks.
The Descartes Pentant™ CSP Inventory System
The Descartes Pentant CSP Inventory System has been specifically designed for road transport operations into inland temporary storage facilities anywhere in the UK, making it ideal for businesses looking to run a smooth, compliant, and efficient ETSF.
Descartes Pentant is an approved Community Service Provider (CSP) with an accredited interface to HMRC’s new Customs Declaration Service (CDS), as well as the previous CHIEF system. This ensures full visibility, digital traceability and robust compliance for every arrival into your ETSF.
Together with the approved Descartes Pentant inventory system, Descartes helps streamline the HMRC approval process, speeding up the time it takes to get your ETSF operational and reducing the complexity of compliance.
Because it can take several months to establish an ETSF, now is the time to act, especially for organisations handling luxury goods, high-value items, or time-sensitive consignments where delays can lead to financial or reputational loss.