Northern Ireland’s unique post-Brexit trading position is about to experience its most significant technical change since the introduction of the Trader Support Service. On 28 June 2025 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will switch from the long-serving Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) to the European Union’s Certificates Exchange System (CERTEX) for verifying import and export [...]
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The Enveloppe Logistique Obligatoire (ELO) system is the most significant change to Franco-British roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) customs processes since Brexit. Introduced by French Customs on 28 April 2025 and compulsory from 1 September 2025, ELO folds every customs, safety-and-security and sanitary document for a truck into a single digital “envelope” identified by one barcode. Drivers present [...]
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Introduction Gold bars, platinum sponge, uncut diamonds, and coloured gemstones command exceptional value and are consequently subject to heightened scrutiny at the United Kingdom border. Importers who master the rules that govern tariff classification, customs valuation, security logistics, and electronic declarations reduce both financial risk and clearance delays. The following guide consolidates current HMRC requirements [...]
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Introduction The United Kingdom imports a substantial volume of furniture and decorative home goods each year, ranging from Italian-crafted sofas to hand-thrown Asian ceramics. Importers who grasp the interlocking rules of tariff classification, customs duty, Value Added Tax (VAT), and declaration formalities mitigate both cost and delay. This guide consolidates current HMRC requirements and best [...]
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Introduction Importing textiles and clothing into the United Kingdom involves more than arranging transport and paying duty. Importers must meet detailed rules on commodity classification, documentary evidence, consumer labelling, product safety, and post-Brexit customs formalities. Non-compliance risks delays, fines, or even seizure. The guidance below explains each regulatory layer and shows how the Customs Declarations [...]
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Introduction Automotive components rank among the United Kingdom’s most valuable manufactured exports, yet their cross-border movement is governed by an intricate mesh of customs law, preferential trade agreements, and documentary proof-of-origin requirements. Since 1 January 2021—the date on which the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) replaced EU Customs-Union membership—exporters have faced new compliance obligations, [...]
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Introduction Moving industrial machinery across borders involves considerably more than arranging transport. Exporters must satisfy United Kingdom export‑control legislation, observe international packaging and safety standards, and complete a sequence of customs formalities that culminate in a compliant export declaration. This guide sets out each stage chronologically—from initial licence screening to the final departure message—while highlighting [...]
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Introduction Whether you are an established chemical distributor or a general business branching into specialty raw materials, importing chemicals into Great Britain demands absolute clarity on two separate but intertwined regulatory tracks. UK REACH governs the safety, registration and authorisation of every substance that will ultimately be placed on the GB market, while HMRC customs [...]
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