Trading goods with the EU

The end of the Brexit transition period brings significant changes for logistics and supply chain operations, with customs formalities required on all goods moving between the UK, EU, GB and NI.

Trading Standards can assist in ensuring your goods meet the legal requirements for labelling, documentation, test certificates, technical files or product information files and certificates of conformity.

It is important to ensure that your products are safe and are imported or exported with the relevant documentation. The documentation required depends on the product, for example a machinery product must be accompanied with the certificate of conformity, however toys just need the relevant documentation to be made available on request.

It is important you are aware of the relevant legislation, rules and requirements for the specific products you sell.

Trading Standards can offer advice to businesses in the following areas:

Food and food composition:

• Labelling
• Health and nutrition claims
• Risk assessment and HACCP controls

Safety of consumer products which can include toys, electrical goods, cosmetics and construction products. We can provide advice on:

• Labelling
• Risk assessment
• Technical files
• Testing
• Due diligence

Consumer rights:

• Consumer rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015
• Cancellation of contracts
• Terms and conditions
• Online selling
• Selling to consumers in their home

Feed:

• Composition
• Contamination
• Labelling

Weights and measures:

• Average quantity
• Minimum quantity
• Testing and approval of weighing equipment
• Product specific requirements

There are also new rules regarding products previously requiring the CE mark.

The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking is a new UK product mark, replacing the CE mark for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most goods which previously required the CE marking, known as ‘new approach’ goods.

Below are links to information regarding the use of the various markings following the transition from the EU:

• Guidance on using the UKCA marking
• Guidance on using the UKNI marking
• Guidance on placing goods on the market in Great Britain
• Guidance on placing goods on the market in Northern Ireland
• A-Z of industry guidance to understand requirements for product types
• UKMCAB database of UK conformity assessment bodies (approved bodies).

If you have any questions or require further advice, please call us on 03333 60 23 00.

Customs

There are other factors that are important when importing or exporting goods, many of which are around customs and taxes, which Trading Standards do not cover. However, we have put some information below with links to further advice and guidance that may help.

This is a complicated area where experience and specific systems are required. There are several options for small businesses to use to navigate this:

Customs agents

Customs agents can help you with your customs declarations, they can deal with authorities on your behalf, helping you to avoid delays, as well as possible fines and fees if you fail to comply with customs requirements.

Freight forwarders

Freight forwarders are specialists in international logistics and can arrange the transport of your goods from their point of origin right to your door. Some also offer customs brokerage services.

Self-declare

Most businesses opt for using a specialist as this is a complex process and requires specific knowledge of what forms to fill in and the correct commodity codes. It would also require access or the purchasing of additional software to be able to make the declarations. If you wished to consider the self-declare option, it’s likely additional in-house training would be required.

Search the government register of customs agents and fast parcel operators.

Commodity codes for UK imports

A commodity code provides details of the goods you’re importing, such as what they are, what they’re made of, how they’re used and even how they’re packaged. This information is used for tracking imports into the country, and making sure that hazardous items are properly treated, but also for calculating import duty and VAT.

To import anything into the UK, you’ll need to make sure the right commodity code is included in your customs declaration. If you can’t correctly match your goods to the right code, you’ll be paying the wrong duties – risking serious legal consequences including top-up taxes and fines.

At the UK end of your import, you will need to do the following:

• Register for an EORI number (if you don’t have one already) – this shouldn’t take more than three working days to arrive.
• Understand the terms of sale, or Inco Term as it is commonly known; this will dictate the responsibility of both the seller and the buyer.
• Get the right commodity code for your goods, which may require you to apply for a BTI ruling. This can take time, so plan ahead.
• Check if you need any import licences for your goods and apply if necessary.
• Arrange transport.
• Declare your goods to customs – or have a freight forwarder or customs agent do this on your behalf.
• Pay any required duty or VAT before your goods can be released by customs authorities.
• Depending on what you’re importing, you may be able to subsequently reclaim some, or all of the VAT paid.

Useful links and contacts

If you have any questions regarding customs, please call the Customs and International Trade Helpline on 0300 322 9434.

Read more about:

• importing goods into the UK on the GOV.UK website
• imports of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) on the GOV.UK website.

For pre-notification information please contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s service desk for support via aphaservicedesk@apha.gov.uk or call 03300 416 99.

• Appoint an authorised EU representative - Manufacturers in non-EU countries who wish to sell their products in the EU must appoint an authorised representative established in the EU to act on their behalf. Find out how to appoint an EU-recognised notified body on the GOV.UK website.
• Label your goods correctly - Most goods that are exported to the EU need specific labelling in the right language. Find out more about the EU labelling and packaging requirements on the European Commission website.
• Meet EU product safety requirements (if you need a Certificate of Conformity) - As an exporter, you are responsible for designing and manufacturing products that meet all applicable safety requirements, including carrying out the required conformity assessment procedure. Any testing required by EU legislation must use EU notified bodies. UK test houses no longer meet these requirements. Certificates will also need to be in the language of the member state where they will be placed on the market. Find out more about conformity assessments on the European Commission website.
• Register for an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number. You need an EORI number that starts with GB to export goods.
• Decide how you want to make customs declarations and whether you need to get someone to deal with customs for you.

Guidance for exporting certain products

For more information about how the new rules affect how certain goods are exported to the EU, read our guidance documents below:

• cosmetics guidance document (PDF, 167.9 KB)
• food guidance document (PDF, 205.9 KB)
• product safety guidance document (PDF, 134.2 KB).

If you need more personalised advice for your business, get in touch with Trading Standards.