Sponsored Editorial: Produced in association with Kent County Council
Time is running out. If you do business with Europe new rules will apply from January 1.
Regardless of the outcomes of the EU-UK trade negotiations, there are important steps that Kent businesses need to take now to prepare for those changes.
The changes will impact many businesses across the county that export to Europe, or whose supply chain relies on imports from Europe.
Steve Rock, Kent County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, said: “If goods for export to Europe don’t have the correct documentation they will be turned back at the border.
“Not only is this bad for business, but it will also increase disruption at the ports and the road networks.
“Despite constant encouragement to prepare by Trading Standards and other agencies for over two years, we know that many businesses are not preparing for the new rules next year”.
“Around 8% of Kent businesses export to the EU and 15% are in the supply chain of other businesses’ that export to EU so that’s a total 9,600 Kent businesses that will be impacted if they do not prepare.”
Around 8% of Kent businesses export to EU and 15% are in the supply chain of other businesses
For businesses who do not prepare for these changes it could mean...
Your goods may be refused entry into the EU
You will be responsible for paying the costs of examination
You will need to pay for storage
You will need to pay to rectify the problems
If the issues cannot be rectified, you will need to pay for the goods to be destroyed
There is still time to ensure your firm is ready for January 1
To help prevent this, businesses exporting from Kent need to...
Appoint an authorised EU representative: Manufacturers in non-EU countries who wish to sell their products in the EU must appoint an authorised representative established in the EU to act on their behalf. Find out how to appoint an EU-recognised notified body on the GOV.UK/transition website.
Label goods correctly: Most goods that are exported to the EU need specific labelling in the right language. Find out more about the EU labelling and packaging requirements at kent.gov.uk/eutrade and on the European Commission website.
Meet EU product safety requirements (if you need a Certificate of Conformity): As an exporter, you are responsible for designing and manufacturing products that meet all applicable safety requirements, including carrying out the required conformity assessment procedure. Any testing required by EU legislation must use EU notified bodies. UK test houses will not meet these requirements after December 31. Certificates will also need to be in the language of the member state where they will be placed on the market. Find out more about conformity assessments on the European Commission website.
From January 1 Kent firms will need to make customs declarations and pay tax on goods going to and coming from Europe
Mr Rock added: “There is still time to ensure you are ready for January 1.
“Any deal we strike with the EU may mean that businesses may pay less in duty for goods in and out and perhaps some other concessions.
“However, this will not change the fundamental fact that businesses will have to meet all the new legal requirements as we will be a country outside the EU, and therefore outside the single market.
“These requirements cover not only product specific legislation, but businesses will also need to understand and prepare to make customs declarations and pay tax on goods going to and coming from Europe.”
Contact the Kent and Medway Growth Hub to speak to an adviser - call 03333 602300
Visit Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce to view video from the EU transition conference for practical information and advice on what businesses need to do now to be prepared for the changes on the January 1
Visit Kent International Business for access to a range of export support organisations in Kent including the Department for International Trade (practical advice on changes to be made to ensure ongoing export-readiness) and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (export and customs documentation).
Visit the government transition pages to get a personalised checklist for your business by answering a few short questions. It will help you understand how things may change on January 1 and what you can do to get ready.
