Author: TadhgC

Due to the invasion of Ukraine, and the thousands of refugees it has created, there is a humanitarian crisis developing on the Ukrainian border.  In an effort to help, Hendrick European, Virginia Transport, twenty members of The Pallet Network Ireland, and other Irish hauliers are arranging for the collection of essential goods to be shipped from Ireland to a distribution centre (Hrubieszowski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji) in Hrubieszow, a town beside the Ukrainian border in Poland. 

The Pallet Network members (listed below) have added to the existing drop-off points for essential supplies.  I’ve added the list of goods and drop off points as a PDF to the post as it may be useful.

Items should be packed in banana boxes if possible to help with stacking/storage.
A list of contents in English & Polish (if possible) should be taped to the boxes so they can be identified and allocated as quickly as possible on arrival.

FOOD

• Tea and coffee (non-grained)
• Cans with an opener (soups, beans, stews, meatballs – ready meals in a tin)
• Food (porridge, rice, pasta, cereal, sugar)
• Soups (in packs dry)
• Baby food (formula milk in powder, baby food in jars, and in pouches)
• Sweets (chocolate, bars) all types of gluten-free and dairy.
• Food for pets – any type and for all our furry friends
• Disposable cutlery and plates, kitchen towels
• Conserves/preserves
• Energy bars

CLOTHING / BEDDING

• Sleeping bags, blankets, sleeping mat, thermal blankets
• Napkins every sizes
• Baby clothes any ages – clean and washed please
• New ladies, men and kids underwear all sizes
• Scarves, coats, gloves, pullovers/sweaters
• Warm socks

HYGIENE / MEDICAL

• Personal hygiene products (hair shampoo, bath gel, soap, deodorants, toothpaste, and toothbrushes).  NB: if sending shampoos/liquids, please wrap in clingfilm or put in plastic sealed containers.
• Dressings (bandages, sterilized gauze, disinfectants, plasters, wipes, sanitary items, hygienic females pads, tampons)
• Paracetomol, ibuprofen
• Milton tablets or equivalent

OTHER

• Toys for children, stuffed and cuddly – have to be clean and complete please  
• Notebooks, blocks, crayons, colouring books.
• Batteries / Flashlights
• Powerbanks & cables
• Backpacks

In addition to the five collection points announced already :

1. Merris Engineering, Milltown, Co Galway, H54 DH28
2. A Transport, Athy, Co Kildare, R14 H593
3. Naas Truck Wash, Naas – Mike Moran is taking collections.
4. JS Ryan Freight, Castletown, Co Laois, R32 KA4C
5. Hendrick European, Whitestown, Co Dublin, A45 ED37.  Simon 0877563248

We’re pleased to expand on that with TPN Ireland members, and add the following collection points :

1. Wexford, DHT Transport, Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, Ph 00353 539236809, Contact Hazel
2. Waterford, Storeall Logistics, Marine Point, Belview Port, Ph 00353 51 831210, Contact Eddie
3. Cork, TPN, Kilburry Enterprise Centre, Dublin Hill, Cork City, Ph 00353 21 422 1354, Contact Donal
4. Cork North, K&L Cargo, Mountleader Ind Est, Millstreet, Ph 00353 29 70163, Contact Gordon
5. Kerry, Garyowen Transport, Castletoen, Co Kerry, Ph 00353 66 7128666, Contact Jamie
6. Limerick, Abhann Logistics, Amhann Road, Raheen Ind Est, Limerick, Ph 00353 61309026, Contact Gertrude/ Mike
7. Tipperary South, Francis Ely Transport, Ahnid, Thurles, Ph 00353 50445404, Contact Majella/ Francis
8. Clare, Eoin Gavin Transport, Woodpark co Clare, Ph 00353 61 713486, Contact Eoin
9. Galway, Langan Couriers, Oranmore Business Park, Oranmore, Ph 00353 9179 0009, Contact Rob
10. Mayo, East West Express, Ballymore Road, Charlestown, Ph 00353 94 925 4502, Contact Aine
11. Sligo/ Leitrim, Novapoint, Aughamore Business park, Sligo, Ph 00353 71 9304 929, Contact Sean
12. Donegal, Donegal Groupage, Carrickmore, St Johnstone, Donegal, Ph 00353 749148685, Contact Jolene
13. Derry/ Antrim, AM Transport, Unit 21, Port of Larne Business Park, Larne, Ph 00 44 2828262190, Contact Alex
14. Fermanagh/ Tyrone, Liam Connolly Roadfreight, 310 Gola Road, Lisnaskea, 00 44 4867722998, Contact Andrew
15. Armagh/ Down, Allen Logistics, 64A. Old Kilmore Road, Moira, Ph 00353 4892 611520, Contact James
16. Cavan/ Monaghan, Clontibret Transport, Castleblayney, Monaghan, Contact Trevor
17. Meath/ Louth, Breffni Couriers, Unit 9, Tinure Business Park, Monasterboice, Ph 00353 416863350, Contact Finbarr
18. Longford/ Westmeath, Quinn Transport, Blyry Ind Est, Athlone, Ph 00353906478862, Contact Mark, Katherine
19. Dublin/ Wicklow, Independent Express Cargo, unit 3 Orion Business Dublin 15, D15 PAA6. Ph 01 821 9999, Contact Kamil
20. Kildare, Deering Transport, Kildon, Nurney, Ph 00353 45526743, Contact Dave
21. Carlow, South East Freight, Augha, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow,
    R21 HP60, 059 914 6555, Contact Anne

We’re extremely pleased to receive an award for TWENTY years of partnership with The Pallet Network UK (https://twitter.com/OurTPN).
We’re all looking forward to another 20 years!

As of Jan 2^nd 2022  it seems that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is hitting a very large number of people and there is a need for much greater care to reduce the spread of this dangerous virus.

We are very fortunate in IEC to have been able to maintain our full services throughout this epidemic, and we are anxious that this should continue with no service interruption.

We have taken great care with mask-wearing, hand sanitising, and avoiding creating “spreader events” whenever possible.

We also strongly advise everyone to get all possible vaccinations and boosters at the earliest possible opportunity.

Please remember that there are still between five and ten people dying in Ireland every day from the effects of Covid-19.

Please ensure that anyone visiting us complies fully with our Covid-19 safety protocols, and is fully vaccinated.

Avoid shaking hands

Wear (good quality) masks properly

Sanitise hands at every opportunity

Avoid close proximity to others as much as possible

Be fully vaccinated & boosted

It seems Brexit will never be quite “done”. It is certainly set to have ongoing changes on customs regulations and ever-changing stages of implementation throughout 2022.

While the Northern Ireland protocol continues to be an area of dispute between the UK and the EU, there won’t be a definite settled position on customs processes for us.

While there are no customs processes between Ireland North and South, there should not be any freight from the UK mainland destined for the ROI (Republic of Ireland) travelling via Northern Ireland unless full customs clearance is effected when passing through Northern Ireland.

GB shipments coming into the ROI have full and complete processes now in place and these should not have any further changes relating to Brexit.

However this is not the case at UK ports for exports coming from the ROI. All changes to ROI imports are postponed for the moment but may be implemented at short notice anytime.

While the N IRL protocol is still being argued, a different timetable is being applied to imports into GB from the ROI as compared to the rest of the EU.

At different stages throughout 2022 GB plans to start implementing import controls on food and agri products from the EU that involve health and veterinary certs not required up to now.

Bear in mind the below timetable only applies to shipments from the rest of the EU, not ROI, to GB

Extract from Revenue and Customs sited below set out the timetables and some details :

“UK Import and Customs Controls due to be introduced on 1 January 2022 have been postponed for goods from Ireland

On 15 December, the UK government announced that they are, “to extend, on a temporary basis, the current arrangements for moving goods from the island of Ireland to Great Britain . . . goods moving from the island of Ireland directly to Great Britain will continue to do so on the basis of the arrangements that apply currently, until further notice; and will not, for now, be affected by the changes being introduced on 1 January for all other inbound goods.”
This means, until further notice, for goods moving from Ireland directly to Great Britain there is:

• no requirement for pre-notification of SPS products. (It is important to note that only applies for those exporters that are not already subject to pre-notification requirements)
• no requirement for pre-lodgement of UK customs declarations
• no requirement for compliance with full UK import controls and
• no requirement to use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS).

The requirement for compliance with existing requirements for full EU export formalities and use of the PBN for goods moving via RoRo ferry, as well as the existing UK formalities in relation to controlled goods e.g. alcohol, continues and are not changed. “
“ Preparing for the introduction of changes
The postponement of the changes due to take effect on 1 January 2022 is temporary. Irish businesses exporting to the UK are strongly advised to continue to prepare and be ready for the full introduction of UK import and customs controls in 2022. Irish businesses should be mindful that the lead-in time to their commencement once announced, could be quite short.”

Below is an update from HM customs in GB

UK Requirement	Original Proposed Date	Revised Date of Introduction
Full Customs declarations and controls	1 January 2022	Postponed until further notice for goods moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain. Requirements will apply for UK imports from other EU Member States and for goods transported from EU countries to Ireland via Great Britain either under transit or vi a distribution hub in GB.
Pre-notification of SPS goods	1 October 2021	Postponed until further notice for goods moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain unless it was already in place. Requirements will apply for UK imports from other EU Member States and for goods transported from EU countries to Ireland via Great Britain either under transit or vi a distribution hub in GB
Safety and security declarations on entry to the UK (ENS declarations)	1 January 2022	1 July 2022
Export Health/ Phytosanitary Certificates and physical/identity checks on animal by-products; plant and plant products; meat and meat products; high-risk food not of animal origin	1 January 2022	1 July 2022
Export Health Certificates and physical checks on all dairy products	1 January 2022	1 September 2022
Export Health Certificates and physical checks on all remaining products of animal origin including composite and fish products	1 January 2022	1 November 2022

Independent Express Cargo will be closing at
13:00 Friday 24^th December
and reopening at
06:00 Tuesday 4th January.

Independent Express wishes all of our customers a very happy Christmas.

Dear Customer,

There has been exciting developments recently for Independent Express Cargo Ltd as the Company has merged with Connect Logistics. Independent Express Cargo and Connect Logistics have been leading companies in the freight and logistics industry for some years now. This merger will bring positive changes for everyone. It will make the Company stronger and more competitive in the market and the increased resources will ensure we are more capable of providing a quality customer service.

The Connect Logistics name will be reflected on all stationary, invoices, statements etc and will be a trading name of Independent Express Cargo Ltd. We assure you all your records will remain properly maintained, organised and secure.

The Independent Express Cargo team remain as is and continue to be your point of contact for day to day queries and support.

We are looking forward to the numerous benefits from this merger. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call or email. We greatly appreciate your business and continued support.

Kind regards,

Eamon Sullivan

Chief Executive

Independent Express Cargo Ltd / Connect Logistics

Brexit warning: ‘If the processes are not working on January 1st, there will be hell’

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/warehouse-space-scarce-due-to-brexit-covid-and-christmas-stockpiling-1.4432216

Customs agents say small firms trading with UK not ready for ‘colossal’ volume of forms

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/call-for-businesses-to-be-given-grace-period-to-implement-brexit-changes-1.4416297