A Bristol-based firm and the organisation behind the city’s chamber of commerce have become the first in the country to use a revolutionary new on-line customs tool that can ease post-Brexit complications when exporting to the Europe.
Called Genesis, the system validates the origin of goods to make EU customs checks quicker and easier. 
It was used for the first time by specialist supplier of beverage products to the coffee sector within hospitality Beyond the Bean and Business West, one of five UK chambers of commerce piloting the system, which has been devised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the global trade body.
Beyond the Bean international sales manager Conrad Whiteley said: “We are really honoured to be the first exporter in the UK to have been part of project Genesis and had our UK preferential origin statement for Ireland verified on the platform to prove that we comply with the free trade agreement we have with the EU.
“Exports have always been key to Beyond the Bean and over the past five years that side of the business has grown from 24% to over 40% of our sales.”
He said Europe had always been a strong market for the firm and despite the challenges of Brexit and the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality sector, it had achieved growth on the continent.
“In the future, the EU maybe become a more challenging market to do business with and we see Genesis as an essential tool to future proof the European market exporting process, making it more secure and smoother for all,” he added.
Business West processes more than 40,000 documents a year and preferential rules of origin could be very complex, according to its head of international trade services Catherine Stephens.
“Compliance and transparency are key for international trade and Genesis gives both the exporter and importer comfort that claims have been validated by both Business West and the International Chambers of Commerce,” she added.
Business West commercial director James Monk said overseas buyers were increasingly questioning the validity of self-declarations when it came to the complex topic of rules of origin and compliance.
“Using this solution reassures both manufacturers and buyers of compliance and builds upon the global reputation of chambers of commerce as independent third parties,” he said.
“It will reduce both the risks of human error and fraud. As our new government agrees more free trade agreements, this platform will provide clarity and certainty for the global supply chains.”
Pictured below: The Beyond the Bean team and Business West head of international trade services Catherine Stephens, centre
