Exit from Europe

Advice and support available from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

In addition to providing comprehensive information and guidance on the GOV.UK transition webpages, the Government has launched a number of tools to help businesses understand what is required of them following our exit from Europe:

Business Support Helpline - helps you identify the actions you need to take. You can call the helpline on 0800 998 1098. For more information, including opening hours, visit the Business Support Helpline page on GOV.UK.
Brexit Checker Tool - which quickly identifies the specific steps your business needs to take. Complete the Brexit Checker Tool on GOV.UK.
BEIS 'Business Readiness Transition Bulletin' - you can sign up for a regular bulletin from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) that provides information on recently published guidance.
BEIS webinars are available on the GOV.UK website across a range of topics for organisations that trade with the EU. They provide specific advice on how businesses can ensure they comply with the new rules.
There is a free webinar for exporters of animals and products of animal origin on the GOV.UK website. The webinar will help you learn more about what you need to do to export animals, animal products (dairy, poultry, meat, animal feed) and fish from Britain to the European Union from 1 January 2021.

Exporters

You must declare any goods you send to the EU, providing details about what you are sending and what it's worth using a customs declaration form. You can get a customs intermediary to help you do this. Please see the 'Get someone to deal with customs for you' guidance on the GOV.UK website.
If you are sending goods using a fast parcel operator or express courier, they will declare the goods for you using the information you provide. Small businesses who aren't looking to get a contract with a customs agent may find this option beneficial.
If you are sending goods by post valued at £900 or less, Royal Mail will give you a customs declaration sticker to fill in and attach to the parcel. For goods worth more than £900, Royal Mail will submit the customs declaration for you, using the information you provide.
You will need an Export Health Certificate (EHC) to export food or drink that contains products of animal origin such as meat, dairy or eggs. Please see the 'Export or move food, drink and agricultural products' guidance on the GOV.UK website.
The Department for International Trade's Check How to Export Goods online tool on the GOV.UK website has information on the UK border and duties and customs procedures for over 160 markets around the world.
There is VAT guidance on the GOV.UK website about the conditions for zero rating VAT on the goods you export, and what you should do when you export goods in specific circumstances.
An online guidance package developed by DEFRA with HMRC to guide fish exporters through each step of the export journey. There's a range of information and support available to help you make sure you are following the new rules including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) One Stop Shop (opens PDF).
You can call HMRC's Customs and International Trade Helpline and speak to an advisor on 0300 322 9434. The helpline is open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 4pm at weekends. You can also send questions via the HMRC imports and exports webchat service.

Northern Ireland

Bespoke Brexit advice from Trading Standards

Trading Standards can provide you with specific regulatory advice in relation to Brexit on the following matters:

The new requirements placed on businesses who previously brought goods in from the EU and are now regarded as 'importers' and not 'distributors'. This will require these businesses to have additional labelling, checks and procedures in place. Some of these measures came into effect on 1 January 2021. Please note on the GOV.UK website there is guidance in relation to importing goods and guidance on importing animal products, high risk food and feed not of animal origin.
The new requirements placed on businesses who previously sold goods in the EU but are now regarded as 'third country suppliers' (including those who supply food of animal origin). Again, this requires such businesses to put in place additional checks, labelling and procedures and some of the requirements came into effect on 1 January 2021.
The special requirements that apply to goods sold or supplied within Northern Ireland.
The safety compliance requirements placed on UK manufacturers producing products for the consumer market in terms of labelling, testing and registration of certain products.
The new requirements placed on feed businesses and assistance with Export Health Certificates for animal feed.
The requirements placed on those importing animals into the UK. Guidance on importing and moving live animals is on the GOV.UK website.

Please complete our business advice online form to get in touch with our business advice service. There is a charge of £70 per hour plus VAT for our advice, but we will give you an estimate of the cost of the advice you need before proceeding so that you have the choice as to whether to proceed or not.

You can also read more about our advice services on our advice for business page.