The European Union and the United Kingdom have finally agreed on a free trade agreement, which provides for a number of measures to facilitate trade as of January 1, 2021.

WARNING: the signing of this free trade agreement does not change the fact that the United Kingdom will indeed have to be treated as a third country to the EU in terms of customs and VAT (see our dedicated FAQs on the subject).

Here are the main customs measures contained in this free trade agreement:

  • The movement of goods between the UK and the EU will be subject to customs controls.
  • However, trade will be duty and quota free, provided that companies comply with the rules of origin.
  • There will be no mutual recognition of European and British certifications. Therefore, to market goods in the EU and the UK will require two separate certifications.
  • British agri-food goods will have to carry health certificates and undergo sanitary and phytosanitary controls at the border inspection posts of the member states.

For more information, please contact us.

Source : European Commission