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The Department for Business and Trade has issued Notice to Exporters 2026/04, published 27th February 2026, confirming communication issues between the two export licencing systems, LITE and SPIRE, with the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) database. Published 27th February 2026. The communication issue has resulted in export licence information being missing from the CDS.
Summary
If you experience a problem whilst submitting a declaration, please use the link to
The DBT has confirmed its awareness of an ongoing issue affecting the transmission of export licences from LITE and SPIRE to HMRC’s Customs Declaration Service (CDS), resulting in controlled goods stalling at the border because essential licence data is missing from the CDS database.
The DBT has advised that a resolution to the issue is being investigated as a matter of urgency. In the meantime, if goods stall at the border or there are any issues with the ability to present licences at the border, businesses are asked to report the problem using the following link:
Report a problem using the Customs Declaration Service - GOV.UK
Urgent enquiries should be addressed to the following email address: cds.operations@hmrc.gov.uk, including the following information:
- What type of organisation is reporting the problem
- Business name of the agent or agency
- contact name and number
- Your email address to reply to
- Business name of the trader
- What type of problem are you encountering
- imports or exports
- What type of goods
- If the goods are stuck at the border
Contact ECJU for General queries about strategic export licensing at the following address:
Export Control Joint Unit
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY
Email exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Telephone 020 7215 4594
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