Bespoke Handling has confirmed the opening of a new office in Brussels, specialising in the production and handling of customs documentation and ATA Carnets. The Belgium-based entity, Bespoke Handling SRL, becomes the company’s fourth global location, joining Bespoke Handling’s two offices in the UK and its base in the Middle East.
The Brussels office will focus specifically on the production of ATA Carnets – the internationally recognised customs document required for the temporary transit of goods, and mandatory for all goods entering the UK from mainland Europe on a temporary basis. ATA Carnets act as a ‘passport for goods’, allowing vehicles, equipment and other items to cross borders without the payment of import duties or taxes, provided they are re-exported within the document’s period of validity.
Bespoke Handling’s Brussels team will produce and deliver ATA Carnets digitally, supporting the wider industry shift towards paperless processing. The International Chamber of Commerce’s eATA digital carnet system went live on 1 June 2026 across 30 countries and customs territories, including the UK and all 27 EU member states, with full worldwide digital adoption targeted for 1 January 2028. Bespoke Handling’s own digital delivery process is being rolled out across its network over the coming months, in line with this transition.
ATA Carnets are used to move goods valued at billions of pounds across borders every year, with industry figures showing well over 200,000 Carnets issued worldwide annually. Incorrect use, however, carries real financial risk: HMRC can charge full customs duty and VAT, plus a penalty, if an ATA Carnet is not correctly stamped or scanned on entry or exit, and international rules impose an additional penalty of 10 percent of duties and taxes where goods are not properly re-exported. Getting the paperwork right first time, and managing it through every stage of the journey, is therefore critical for any business or individual moving goods into the UK on a temporary basis.
“We’ve been coordinating and administering ATA Carnets for over 35 years, recently building a close relationship with the London Chamber of Commerce to offer customers a truly comprehensive service,” explains Fabian Daffern, Operations Director, Bespoke Handling. “This new Belgium facility gives us a local solution for clients transiting into the UK, backed by our in-house production capability and years of experience resolving Carnet actions. The shift to digital documentation now lets us offer an even quicker, more effective process for customers.”
A dedicated email address, carnets@bespokehandling.com, has been set up for customers to get in touch regarding ATA Carnet applications and enquiries.
