Valentine’s Day, Brexit complicates things in GB: with new rules at risk of flowers and gifts

The next Saint Valentine and the first important test for the new post-Brexit trade rules entered into force on January 1st

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For the February 14several distributors in Great Britain they fear that they will not be able to meet customer demands precisely because of the entry into force of the new rules on the import of goods from the European Union

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In the country – insiders ask – Will there be enough flowers, chocolates, gifts and wine to celebrate the feast of lovers properly? Doubts arise from the fact that Her Majesty’s Customs Service (HMRC) now requires a new code for the entry of goodsbut many importers say they have not been warned and are in trouble

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“This week we had problems … the Hmrc does not share enough information“, he said Daniel Lambert Winesone of the largest importers of European wine to the UK

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“If we who are large importers have problems and prepare the cards weeks in advance – say from Daniel Lambert Wines – I believe that the problems are greater for smaller importers and anyone who relies on last-minute supplies”

Valentine’s Day, 10 original gifts for her in fast delivery

Richard Bartlett, director of the logistics company KlearNow, reiterated that “this Valentine’s Day is the first large-scale event for consumers since the start of the new rules“and stressed that many entrepreneurs have now lost their” safety net “.” Until January 1, the full post-Brexit effect on trade with the EU had been mitigated thanks to the grace period “for the entry into force. of the new rules, “now the safety net for importers and exporters is goneBartlett explained

Valentine’s Day, 10 original gifts for him in fast delivery

“Our data shows that certain product lines have experienced longer than normal delays since January 1st, which suggests that the new rules are causing significant friction for UK importers“, he added

After a suspension that lasted for the whole of 2021, on 1 January 2022 the new rules on the trafficking of goods between the European Union and Great Britain (UK excluding Northern Ireland) under the Brexit agreement. The rules are not simple, so much so that the European Union has provided a series of very detailed informative publications on the subject – available in all European languages ​​and in English – which provide information on taxes, excise duties and VAT.

The new rules require companies to report to customs what exactly is being shipped from the EU to the UK (and vice versa) and from where. The European exporter will need to acquire an identification number and forward it to the UK importers, who in turn will need to collect further data and notify the authorities. If the procedure is handled incorrectly or incompletely, the assets can be seized, confiscated or returned to the sender

Small businesses had already sounded the alarm: they fear that the burden of bureaucratic procedures will discourage exporters, especially those of gastronomic specialties. Some, in fact, have renounced to sell products in the European Union or in the UK due to excessive bureaucratic weight