Once you have identified an opportunity to use goods manufactured abroad to sell in the domestic market, it is important to understand the complexities regarding their importation to avoid their delay or prevention from being brought into the UK.

• Procedures
• Planning
• HM Revenue & Customs
• Useful links

Importing

Entering the European Union has made trade between the member countries more simple.

Importing from outside the EU requires compliance with the Importing rules of the Customs and Excise Department.

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Planning from the placement of the order through to the safe delivery of the product to your premises needs to be considered in great detail. Each step of the journey may be a potential cause of delay either through the exporting country?s authorities or through transport delays.

It will be important to draw up a contract with the supplier that takes account of, amongst others, late and short delivery and responsibility and liability to be negotiated between the parties.

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HM Revenue & Customs administer the import rules and enforce the controls. They are always available for discussions on queries that you have.

A simplified Customs procedure (CFSP) has been introduced for freight and this allows the information and documentation to be submitted electronically.

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• East Midlands International Trade Association
  An independent association established to promote international trade and export expertise amongst the regions businesses
  
  
• HM Revenue & Customs
  All you need to know about importing and exporting and the systems and procedures you need to follow
  
  
• National Euro Info Centre Network
  An interactive map of local Euro Info Centres (EICs) offering specialist information & advisory services to help companies develop their business in Europe
  
  
• TradeMatch
  A database of international companies
  
  
• UK Trade & Investment East Midlands
  
  
• UK Trade Info
  Up to date knowledge on UK imports and exports
  

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