Meet the Entrepreneurs - Tess - video transcript

This transcript is for the video for Meet the Entrepreneurs - Tess video about importing goods from the EU.

[Narrator] Meet Tess, a highly enthusiastic entrepreneur in a haste to make a profit.

Tess is making quick deals and cutting corners to get her goods into the UK.

But little does she know the laws that keep dangerous and unsafe products out of the UK are about to give her a run for her money.

[Tess] “Hello? Ah yes. I need 20,000 gel nails and I need them here as soon as. No, no, no. I don't care where they come from or about paperwork. Just get them here at the price we agreed.

I've got orders piling up here. Time is money.”

[Narrator] Importing to the UK becomes a success story when products are safe. In the UK, products are subject to controls by market surveillance authorities, including trading standards.

This ensures they meet all applicable safety legislation before hitting the market. If goods don't comply with UK safety standards, they may be seized and destroyed.

[Tess] “What? What do you mean ‘may destroy my gel nails’.”

[Narrator] To import products into the UK, you need to follow a few rules to keep people safe. Get your business ready with an EORI number. Check if the sender can export to the UK and decide who will handle customs declarations. Find out the commodity code for your goods. Work out their value and check if you need an import licence.

Don't forget about labelling, marking and marketing rules. Consider the products characteristics, its effect on other products and its presentation.

And always keep records and invoices. Remember, any goods must be safe for consumers.

So, what's the moral of our story?

Maybe Tess should have found out about the import regulations first.

For more information, search on www.gov.uk or contact your local trading standards for advice.

[Tess]“Hello? What, what now? My imported shipment of squishy pigs seized for not meeting safety standards!”

[Card] Office for Product Safety and Standards.

[Video fades to black and ends]