EU Exit: support for businesses

The transition period has ended and new rules are here. Act now to keep your business moving.

Last updated 17 September 2021.

The UK and EU have agreed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement governing future trade relations that sees no tariffs or quotas on the movement of goods produced between the UK and the EU. Even though a deal is secured, doing business with Europe has changed, and you need to follow new rules on exports, imports, tariffs, data and hiring. 

Local and national support

Local support

Webinars: International marketing strategy

The LEP's Go Global webinar series will help you build creditability and confidence with potential new global customers. Learn how to create a high performing digital strategy, enhance your local website presence, adapt to unfamiliar cultures, target and develop leads and manage delivery. Watch now on-demand

Chamber International and the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce 

The Chambers will support businesses with the new requirements related to trade-related documentation, including; licensing, rules of origin, obtaining an EORI number, tariff codes and application of tariffs applicable to goods, obtaining customs simplifications and changes in labelling and packaging of goods.

If you are based in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, contact the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Call 01484 483 660 | Email Brexit@mycci.co.uk

If you are based in Leeds, Bradford, York or North Yorkshire, contact Chamber International. Email clientservices@chamber-international.com

National support

Video explainers on doing business with Europe

Watch a series of videos to familiarise yourself with the new rules and the actions you should be taking. Find out more about 18 topics, including importing and exporting, trade, data, and audit and accounting. Register now to immediately access the video content from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

National Business Support Helpline

The government's Business Support Helpline offers free advice and guidance to new and existing businesses. 

Email enquiries@businesssupporthelpline.org | Call 0800 998 1098 | Web Chat 

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

For support with innovation and international growth, the Enterprise Europe Network is on hand to provide SMEs with the expertise and contacts needed for success. The EEN can support companies with information about the regulatory and procedural changes arising from the UK's departure from the EU.

Email contact@enterprise-europe.co.uk | Call 0300 123 3144 | Visit een.ec.europa.eu

What actions do I need to take now?

If you are a business that deals with Europe are not ready for these changes, you could risk serious disruption to your operations. 

  1. Visit gov.uk/transition now and use the Brexit checker tool to get a personalised list of actions for your business and subscribe to find out when things change. 
  2. You must now make customs declarations when exporting goods to the EU. You can make the declarations yourself, but most businesses use an intermediary like a courier, freight forwarder or customs agent.
  3. Make sure you have an EORI number starting with GB. If exporting, you’ll need to check that the EU business you’re exporting to is also ready.
  4. If you move goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland, make sure you also check the latest Northern Ireland Protocol guidance. If you’re moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the free-to-use Trader Support Service will guide you through the changes.
  5. The Government has taken measures to allow traders time to adjust to new processes. It has introduced new border controls in three stages until 1 July 2021 and agreed with the EU to temporarily simplify Rules of Origin procedures for 12 months to the end of December 2021, by implementing a 12-month waiver on supplier declarations. Watch HMRC’s webinar on Rules of Origin.
  6. For trade with countries outside the EU, check for any changes to tariffs.
  7. If you’re due to travel to the EU for work, you may need a visa or work permit.
  8. If you want to hire from outside the UK, including from the EU, you must be a Home Office licenced sponsor under the UK’s new points-based immigration system. The new system doesn’t apply when hiring Irish citizens, or EU citizens already living in the UK.
  9. You may need to have UK professional qualifications officially recognised to work in a regulated profession in the EEA or Switzerland.

Webinars

  • Sign up to a range of sector and topic-specific webinars for direct support from experts on the new rules on trading with the EU. Following the live events, the webinars are available to watch on-demand
  • The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is hosting a series of free podcasts to help businesses that make, use or supply chemicals, understand what actions they need to take to prepare for the changes. To listen to the podcast, you can search ‘The HSE Podcast’ on your chosen platform.
  • HMRC customs declarations webinars: HMRC has launched multiple editions of this live webinar covering how to complete customs import declarations and explaining how to make import declarations when importing goods between the EU and Great Britain.
  • Department for International Trade webinarsDIT is hosting a series of webinars primarily aimed at businesses which are UK based who import and export goods.
  • The Ministry of Justice has published several on-demand webinars for legal professionals discussing legal changes.
  • Trading with the EU: A video series that explains what businesses need to do to keep their business moving is available to watch now. These videos cover what businesses need to know about exports and imports, customs, commodity codes and controlled goods.

Further guidance

Helpline contact numbers

Helpline contact numbersView or download information on relevant helplines for borders, economy, energy, fish, animal, data and intellectual properly, funding programmes, and more (opens in a new window).

EU Market Surveillance Regulation – new rules apply from 16 July

The Market Surveillance and Compliance of Products Regulation 2019/1020 was adopted in 2019 but will come into force on 16 July 2021. From this date, companies placing products onto the EU market must comply with this regulation if their products are within scope.

The regulation is in place to ensure a high level of protection of health and safety standards in general and the workplace across the EU. The aim is to protect consumers, the environment, public security and other public interest.

It also lays down rules and procedures for Economic Operators, a term used by the EU for the EU contact point. Please see the box below for further information.

View more information here.

To access support to navigate the UK's new trading relationship with the EU, email eutransitionyh@mobile.trade.gov.uk to speak to expert consultants at Enterprise Growth Solutions (EGS). This support is free to access for West and North Yorkshire businesses, funded by the LEP.

HMRC systems update 24 December 2020

As a result of the end of the transition period HMRC is  taking some of its systems offline for a short time. This is a normal approach and it has been preparing to update these systems for some time.

You will need to plan around this downtime. There may be specific action you need to take if you are moving goods during this period.

Each of the following customs processing systems will be experiencing some downtime as a result of the end of the transition period:

Please also check HMRC guidance if you have ongoing customs movements at the end of the transition period.

EU (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks report

The seventh European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks statutory report details the progress on the development of common frameworks. These frameworks will help facilitate the flow of trade between different parts of the UK whilst allowing the UK to fulfil its international obligations; they will help the UK to safeguard our common resources and enable the functioning of the UK’s internal market.

Existing UK trade agreements with non-EU countries

Information on the trade agreements the UK has already signed and our discussions with countries the EU has a trade agreement with has been updated.

List of customs agents and fast parcel operators

Updated with additional customs agents and fast parcel operators who can help submit customs declarations from 1 January 2021.

Financial services legislation under the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018

Updated with Trade Repository Registration Arrangements under the UK Securities Financing Transactions Regulation document. HM Treasury’s programme of secondary legislation to ensure that the UK continues to have a functioning financial services regulatory regime in all scenarios when the UK leaves the EU.