Category: Blog
Raising the Bar: What Mandatory Registration and BSI Customs intermediaries Mean for the UK Customs Brokers
Eighty percent of all international customs declarations cleared in the UK in 2025 were handled by a third-party intermediary. Ninety-nine percent of traders relied solely on an intermediary to declare all of their trade. Those two figures, tucked into HMRC’s own consultation document, say a lot about how central this industry has become to UK…
Low Value Imports Reform: The End of the £135 Duty Relief — and the New Customs System Coming to Replace It
For years, a quiet rule has shaped the way hundreds of millions of parcels enter the UK. If a consignment was worth £135 or less, it came in free of customs duty. That single relief is the invisible engine behind the explosion of cheap online shopping — the £8 phone case from a marketplace seller,…
The UK-EU SPS Agreement Explained: What the 2027 Border Deal Really Means for Food Importers
If you import food into the UK, you’ve probably heard the news: Export Health Certificates will be scrapped, border checks will be removed, red tape gone, hundreds of pounds will be saved on every consignment. On the face of it, the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement — due to take effect in mid-2027 —…
IPAFFS Explained: The Complete Guide for UK Food Importers (2026)
If you import food, animal products, or animal feed into Great Britain, you’ve almost certainly heard of IPAFFS. You may have used it, struggled with it, or handed it over to a customs agent and hoped for the best. Either way, understanding how IPAFFS works — and why it matters — is one of the…
How to Import Seafood and Fresh Fish into the UK: A Complete Customs Clearance Guide
Illustration by ved on Unsplash
How to Import Pet Food into the UK: Complete Customs Clearance Guide
The pet food industry has experienced explosive growth, but many British importers discover too late that bringing pet food into Great Britain involves far more than standard customs procedures. Whether you’re a startup launching premium organic treats or an established distributor expanding your product range, understanding the UK Port Health pet food regulation is crucial…
Avoid Costly Mistakes: How to Import Car to the UK
Last week, I received a call from Sarah, a British expat who’d spent five years working in Germany. She was finally ready to come home, but there was one problem: her beloved BMW, purchased new in Munich three years ago, needed to come with her. “Can I just drive it back?” she asked. “What about…
Moving Back to the UK from Overseas, A Complete Guide
Relocating back to the UK from overseas can be a daunting process, especially when considering the complexities of importing your personal belongings. Fortunately, the UK offers the Transfer of Residence (ToR) Relief, allowing returning residents to bring their household items, vehicles, and even pets back into the country without paying customs duties or VAT, provided…
How to Duty and VAT-Free Customs Clearance for Art Galleries and paintings: Procedure Code 6123
In the vibrant world of international art, British galleries often find themselves at a crossroads of creativity and bureaucracy. The allure of showcasing prized collections at prestigious global exhibitions is undeniable, but the prospect of navigating complex customs procedures can be daunting. This guide aims to unravel the intricacies of duty and VAT-free shipments for…
UK Safety and Security (entry summary) Declarations for EU Imports
What you Need to Know Before 31st January 2025 From January 2025, businesses importing goods from the European Union (EU) to Great Britain (GB) will be required to submit an Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) for their shipments. This new regulation is part of the UK Government`s Border Target Operation Model, designed to improve border security…