Making excise goods movement easier for your business
If you import excise goods – such as alcohol, tobacco or energy products – into the UK, navigating customs and tax rules can be complex. Whether your goods are traveling from a UK port to a bonded warehouse or arriving from the EU, we help ensure they move smoothly, legally and without disruption.
As an HMRC Excise Registered Consignor, we manage your declarations and initiate the movement of goods in the UK’s Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS), supporting faster clearance at ports and seamless delivery to your warehouse or end destination.
What is the EMCS?
The EMCS is a secure digital platform that records the movement of duty-suspended excise goods across the UK and EU. By replacing paper-based forms with real-time electronic declarations, EMCS reduces delays, minimizes errors and ensures full regulatory compliance.
Why EMCS matters for importers
Incorrect use of EMCS can lead to delays, penalties or seizure of goods. Using EMCS correctly enables:
- Real-time approval for goods moving under duty suspension
- Electronic validation by HMRC and receiving parties
- Full traceability of each consignment
- Faster access to bonded warehouses
- Automatic generation of electronic administrative documents (e-ADs)
Who needs to use EMCS?
The EMCS is mandatory for:
- Registered consignors and consignees
- Excise warehouse keepers
- Traders moving goods under duty suspension
- Logistics providers handling excise consignments
Whether you’re importing whisky into London or transporting duty-suspended wine from the EU, EMCS compliance is essential.
How we support your excise operations
We handle every stage of the process to keep your goods moving:
- File import declarations and pay any required duty or VAT
- Maintain excise duty suspension for onward bonded delivery
- Raise e-ADs and generate administrative reference codes (ARCs)
- Support UK-based movements and intra-EU transfers
- Manage EMCS movements to ensure continuity across the EU
Our HMRC-approved status means we can act quickly and compliantly on your behalf, reducing the administrative burden and avoiding costly delays.
A trusted partner for excise compliance
As the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, we offer more than just EMCS support. Working with our European colleagues, we provide end-to-end customs solutions – including software platforms, bonded warehouse transit support, customs duty guarantees and brokerage services. All managed in-house for maximum control and efficiency.
Want to simplify the movement of your excise goods?
Visit our web page to find out more >
Contact us today about registering, filing and managing your EMCS responsibilities with confidence.
Andy Maber
Business Development Manager
Trade Facilitation Services
t: +44 (0)151 350 6666
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).
