Is your business
THE UK HAS LEFT THE EU AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT BEFORE THE END OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD. YOU NEED TO ACT NOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS PREPARED
Scottish outdoor clothing brand Meander Apparel says preparation for the end of the transition period is key.
“For us, it’s getting all the paperwork in place so we’re prepared for different situations,” she explains.
“We’ve had to ensure we comply with new garment labelling rules, such as adding the country of origin and CE markings – which show that they meet EU health and safety standards.”
In spite of the changes, Jill is confident about the future. Her sustainable garments lend themselves well to the outdoors and since the start of the pandemic, sales have soared. “We feel positive and we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” she says.
Businesses are getting ready to leave the single market and customs union when the transition period ends on December 31.
If you trade with the EU, now is the time to prepare for the UK’s new start, so get processes, contracts and agreements in place so you’re ready to take advantage of new opportunities from January 1, 2021.
One of the most urgent jobs on the list is to prepare for changes in import and export declarations to move goods between Great Britain and Europe. From July 1, 2021 all traders moving goods in and out of Europe will have to make declarations and pay the relevant tariffs.
Richard Selby, director of Pro Steel Engineering, based in Pontypool, Wales, has decided to use a freight forwarder for customs declarations.
“Using a freight forwarder means our responsibility ends when the products leave our building,” says Richard, whose
Arrange for a GB EORI number. Register free at gov.uk/eori
Decide how you’re going to make customs declarations – and whether to defer them.
Check if your imported goods are eligible for staged controls.
Decide how you will account for import VAT when you make a customs declaration.
Check if import VAT is due at the border.
Check the controlled goods list to see if you need to complete declarations from January. If your goods are not on the list you can choose to delay import declarations until July 2021.
Check the government’s tariff tables and consider how your trade will be affected.
Find out more about what you need to do at
gov.uk/transition
company has projects in France and Sweden.
“If you’ve got 50 people on a construction site in the middle of Paris, you don’t want to be late delivering to them because you’ve got your paperwork wrong.”
Preparations for the end of the UK transition period started two years ago at Pro Steel. “We got our GB EORI number a while ago. It was very straightforward on the gov.uk website; we had the number within a couple of days.
“We also focused on winning work and getting our plans in place so we could maximise what we’re doing ,” adds Richard. “I just went through the checker at gov.uk and it was a good reminder. I think we’ve been quite focused on the changes – it’s all coming together and we’re hopeful that the change will bring more opportunities.”