What you need to know about UK import regulations and importing from EU to UK
Although a post-Brexit trade deal has been agreed between the UK and the European Union, the process of importing goods to the UK from Europe isn’t as simple and straight forward as it was before. The process also varies in complexity depending on the type of goods that are being imported.
If you are importing goods to the UK for the first time, then it can be slightly daunting and possibly a bit overwhelming. However, you needn’t worry because here at Broughton Transport we help new companies as well as established businesses to import goods from UK to Europe.
Importing from the single market
Made up of 27 member states, the European Union single market is an area that provides freedom of personal movement and of goods. As the UK is no longer in the single market, the new Brexit deal outlines the rules and regulations when importing from any of the 27 member states including France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
While some goods can be imported relatively easily and seamlessly, restrictions apply to certain goods such as items that affect health, the environment or public health.
Other things to consider are where the goods originally came from if that’s outside of the EU as well as if you are transporting to Northern Ireland.
Member states of EU
The EU countries that are the member states of the EU are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany,
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
Importing to UK - Getting started
To understand if your goods carry specific restrictions, when you import to the UK , first visit https://www.gov.uk/import-goods-into-uk or contact Broughton Transport and we will help you to understand the process further. The online guide from UK Government about importing goods into UK includes how to bring goods into the UK from any country, including how much tax and duty you’ll need to pay and whether you need to get a licence or certificate.
Before completing any paperwork, it’s important to have the following information:
- What products (and type of products) are being transported
- The original source of the product
- The quantity as well as dimensions and weights of the products
- The final destination
If goods are being shipped to, or via, Northern Ireland, then other restrictions and processes may apply. It’s also important to stay up to date with the latest regulations as rules change over time.
What happens if UK import regulations aren’t followed?
Not complying with the UK import regulations can result in goods being held up at a port or worse still, goods not being imported at all. This can add considerable costs to businesses and cause issues with the quality of stock being transported.
At Broughton Transport, we provide transport for ambient, fresh and frozen produce using our experience and temperature-controlled containers, but we can’t ensure food arrives fresh if there are transport issues due to regulation issues such as incorrect paperwork. That’s why we work closely with our customers to ensure that the import of goods from Europe is as smooth as possible.
As well as having the right paperwork and complying with the latest regulations, it’s important to ensure that products are packaged and stored safely to avoid any damage. At Broughton Transport, our pallet storage and transport services are typically the best way to keep products safe and to avoid any damage during the transport process.
Need further assistance?
We offer a wide range of storage and transport services using our many years of expertise and proven processes. If you are looking for a transport company to partner with to ensure safe, efficient importing of your goods from Europe to the UK then get in touch with Broughton Transport today.
