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
