Video: What do new post-Brexit import rules mean for your business?

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On 1 January 2022, the Government introduced new rules on importing goods from the EU to Great Britain (GB). You must follow these rules to avoid having to pay additional charges and possible delays during the importing process. This video provides an overview of what the new rules involve. It covers customs declaration rules, rules for pre-notifying imports and rules of origin.

The new import rules that came into effect are:

● Customs Declarations - you must complete customs declarations on imports from the EU to Great Britain at the time you or your courier/freight forwarder bring them into GB. This means you can no longer delay making import customs declarations.

A step-by-step guide is available to help you make sure you’re following the new rules. The guide provides information on how to bring goods into the UK from any country, including how much tax and duty you need to pay and whether you need to get a licence or certificate.

● Rules of Origin - If you sell goods to the EU, or buy goods from the EU and bring them into the UK, you now need to be able to prove that they meet the Rules of Origin to access preferential tariffs.

To benefit from the preferential tariffs, you must have proof that:

- goods you import into the UK from the EU originate there

- goods you export to the EU originate in the UK

If you cannot prove the origin of your product, you or your EU customer may be liable to pay the full rate of customs duty and could face penalties. If you cannot prove your product’s origin, you cannot take advantage of the zero-tariff trade agreement with the EU.

If you’re moving goods between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, rules of origin work differently. Contact the Trader Support Service for up-to-date guidance and support.

● Pre-notifying import rules - There are now new requirements for importing some sanitary and phytosanitary goods, such as meat or plants, to GB from the EU. You (or a representative acting on your behalf) will be required to pre-notify on the relevant IT system - when importing certain goods from the EU to GB.

For Products of Animal Origin, Animal By-Products and High Risk Food and Feed Not of Animal Origin, register for IPAFFS.

If you are new to the process of pre-notifying plants and plant products from 1 January 2022, you should register for and use IPAFFS.

Importers who are currently using the PEACH IT system for pre-notifications should continue to do so until they are told to move to IPAFFS later in 2022. Further information on importing plants and plant products can be found here.

The information in this article was correct at the time of publication