Importing to the UK

The UK has become a particular global trade pain point for many companies conducting trade in this region. From varying trade restrictions to free trade agreements and the onset of Brexit, it is incredibly complex to navigate all the varying compliance requirements. 

Brexit and the UK’s exit from the European Union ended free trade between the EU and the UK. EU companies must now navigate a complex UK import system, while UK companies exporting to the EU must acquire export licenses.

UK businesses need export licenses when shipping, including the OGEL, SIEL, and OIEL. You can check if your goods require a license using the UK government’s export control checker. However, you will most likely need a permit if your goods are classified as:

• Military goods and technology.
• Dual-use items (most tech goods are considered dual-use).
• Chemicals, waste, and hazardous materials.
• Medicines and medical devices.

TecEx mitigates trade barriers and can make exporting from UK businesses a breeze, even post-Brexit. The difficulties in exporting IT hardware out of the United Kingdom allowed us to develop a specific Exporter of Record (EOR) solution for our clients – the UK Exporter of Record Service. TecEx offers the use of our OIEL, allowing us to act as the UK exporter. This eliminates the need for clients to apply for an SIEL, drastically reducing shipment lead times by weeks and mitigating any compliance risk.

Labeling has become extremely important for importing into the UK. As a country-specific requirement, this may mean that EU labels may not comply with UK legislation.