Brexit

A manufacturer in Germany supplies EU qualifying products to a GB company and zero tariffs applies. The GB company places the products within their common stock warehouse and later they are purchased by a company in the Republic of Ireland. Under the TCA rules of origin for preferential trade, these goods when imported into Ireland are not covered by the agreement and full tariffs apply.

Not having clearly defined export / import processes with the EU caused unnecessary documentation issues resulting in long delays at the ports and some vehicles being sent back to the UK. Exporters of food products from Great Britain (GB) were especially impacted due to their Export Health Certificates (EHCs) not being compliant with EU import regulations. Food exporters and their Official Veterinarians complete and issued these certificates in compliance with the directives of the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs.

We have been developing contingency plans to ensure our customers’ products are delivered correctly after 1 January 2021. Significant changes will occur once the UK has left the EU. All UK businesses will be required to provide Customs documentation for products exported to, or imported from the EU, even with the ‘EU Deal’ on Brexit. ICS, as part of our customer services, will be supporting companies with the necessary Customs documentation to comply with the new regulations.

XI EORI required for Northern Ireland. The Government have confirmed that businesses moving goods to or from Northern Ireland (NI) will need a special EORI number with a ‘XI’ country prefix.

The UK Government has updated the rules for wine importers, exporters, producers, retailers and distributors, as from 1 January 2021.

The UK Government have stated that on 1 January 2021 the transition period with the European Union (EU) will end and the United Kingdom (UK) will operate a full, external border as a sovereign nation. This means that controls will be placed on the movement of goods between Great Britain (GB) and the EU. The UK Government have recognised the impact of coronavirus on UK businesses’ ability to prepare and therefore have announced that they will implement full border controls on imports coming into GB in three stages up until 1 July 2021.

The UK Government has now released their new Import and Export Guides for the end of the Transition Period. The guides have been designed to provide a step-by-step process and aim to provide clarity around what is required at the end of the year. When it comes to following the new import / export processes and completing your Customs declarations, we can provide you with assistance and support.

The UK Government is preparing to negotiate a free trade deal with the EU to ensure that UK goods are not subject to duty tariffs and other trade barriers within the EU after the transition period ends on 31 December 2020.