Our first celebration update has been applied to e-Cert with 3 of the new features we have planned. These are:

1.  The ability to use the e-Cert eXpress service to certify documents which are not created by e-Cert.
2.  The ability to upload multiple documents for certification or for proof purposes
3.  A signature wizard to help you produce good quality signatures in e-Cert

To find out more read the full article here or contact you Chamber. 

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce customer R C Treatt applied for the 500,000th e-Cert application in April.  On a recent visit to Suffolk Chamber, Maggie Chilton of the British Chambers of Commerce presented the e-Cert users at R C Treatt and Suffolk Chamber staff with bottles of champagne to celebrate this milestone.

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of e-Cert.    From early beginings in 2000 when software services online were used by only a few major organisations, e-Cert has evolved to become a successful and highly valued service by exporters throughout the UK.

An application for an EC Certificate of Origin this afternoon, was the 500,000th application to be processed by e-Cert.   Watch this space to find out which Chamber and exporter carried out this landmark transaction.

Following on from the regulation changes in January 2010, another significant change will start implementation with effect from April 2010.  

EMCS, the electronic service which will replace the paper AAD is being implemented throughout the EU and affects organisations who ship excise goods.  The first phase, which will be implemented in the UK in April 2010, will be a partial replacement for the current paper AAD process. 

Delegates at a recent e-Cert workshop held in Essex were keen to learn how to get going with e-Cert to save them time and money.   

Most of those attending were aware of e-Cert but hadn't had time to consider how this service might help them.  The opportunity to take a couple of hours to focus on this was enthusiastically received by all those attending. 

If you would like to know more, ask you Chamber about e-Cert workshops in your area. 

Chambers recently spent an enjoyable and informative day at the Port of Southampton.   Meachers Global Logistics hosted a small party from BCC and local Chambers of Commerce at their premises in Southampton.  An introduction to how a freight forwarder operates and the challenges they face, was followed by a visit to the port to see what happens to an export consignment once the documents are completed. 

Exporters at the Fylde Coast Chamber office at Blackpool Airport, getting to know each other before the start of their e-Cert workshop.  This event was very well attended by exporters who had not yet started using e-Cert and were keen to find out how they could benefit from the service. 

A notice has today been issued that certain countries will NOT accept electronically signed and stamped EUR1 documents which means the e-Cert eXpress service can NOT be used for these countries.   e-Cert can still be used to create EUR1 documents for these countries but only the Standard Service can be used.   

Click on the header of this news item for the full story