Trading with the EU to Import, export and customs for businesses

This page provides links to all things relating to Import, Export and Customs for business in the United Kingdom.

For Isle of Man specific advice visit Isle of Man Customs and Excise website.

This guidance relates to a specialised area of trade, which businesses on the Island have very little involvement with. As the page makes clear, these goods will require licences in order to be traded with the EU.

For individuals, for example someone moving firearms across borders in order to attend shooting competitions, the current system of temporary export of firearms used for the rest of the world will extend to include EU countries.

Any individual using this will also need to confirm that the destination country will permit re-export to allow them to bring the firearm back to the Island after the competition.

This guidance sets out how businesses and individuals can trade in plants and plant products with countries within and outside the EU from 1 January 2021. The Isle of Man does not currently export any materials that would have been part of the EU plant passport regime, as such, the Isle of Man will not be affected by changes in the way these goods are exported to the EU.

In respect of imports of plants and plant products from the EU, this guidance outlines the UK’s intended approach and the Isle of Man will work with the UK to ensure a joined up approach between our jurisdictions.

Exporting animals and animal products: In order to transport animals and animal products from the UK and Isle of Man from 1 January 2021, you will need an Export Health Certificate (EHC), and to get your goods checked at border control posts (BCP) in the first European country that they arrive to.

Importing animals and animal products:  From 1 January 2021, the UK and Isle of Man will no longer have access to the EU’s import system TRACES (Trade Control and Expert Systems), instead you will need to use the UK’s new Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS). Health certificates and other documentation are being reviews and further guidance will follow.

Importers would be required to notify the UK (or Isle of Man if appropriate) authorities using the new import system and would be directed to an existing UK (Border Control Post) BCP where relevant checks would take place.

Live animal imports to the Isle of Man direct from third Countries will continue to be prohibited.

Importers of high risk food from the EU would be required to notify the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) of all imports, using the new import notification system. Notifications would be made electronically in advance and would be managed by the FSA. Further details relating to this system are due to be released by the FSA.

High risk foods imported from third countries would need to be notified as above and would then be directed to an existing UK BIP where relevant checks would take place. It is not envisaged that high risk foods and animal feed will be permitted to be imported directly to the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man is discussing how the import and export of hazardous chemicals will be regulated from 1 January 2021.

• The Export of Objects of Cultural Interest (Control) Order 2003 (as applied in the Island by the Export of Goods Etc. (Control) (Application) Order 2004); and
• The Customs and Excise Acts (Dealing in Cultural Objects) (Application) Order 2004, which applied a UK Act, the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003, but only those provisions concerned with import and export offences.