Exporting


Exporting —after Brexit


A no-deal Brexit means the European Community Certificate of Origin and other documents for exporting will no longer be valid, says International Certification Manager Cathy Bryson


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SCOTTISH COMPANIES EXPORTING their goods to the EU will face significant changes to their shipping procedures in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with extra costs and additional paperwork. Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and its partner organisations across the UK are authorised to issue the necessary permissions to businesses sending their products to countries outside the single market. These include the European


Community Certificate of Origin. However, a no-deal Brexit will mean that this document – used by other countries to determine country of manufacture – will no longer be valid and will replaced by a UK equivalent that has already been drawn up. Another important export document set to be replaced is the so-called EUR1 Movement Certificate, allowing importers in third countries to bring in goods at a reduced or nil rate of duty under an EU agreement.


This will probably cease to be


valid after the UK leaves the bloc, so Scottish companies currently using it and despatching goods to non-EU destinations before 31 October should get their paperwork sorted without delay. “We understand that Her Majesty’s


Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have devised a new document,” says Cathy Bryson, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s International Certification Manager. “We need to know what trade agreements will be in place and what we can use this new form for. It may be that EU countries will start requiring it.” There are more than 370 active


exporters applying for documents, with more than 14,000 documents issued this year.


Another change Scottish businesses


may well face is the requirement to obtain ATA Carnets, which are temporary export and import documents allowing items to clear


customs in some countries without paying duties or taxes. Cathy adds: “If these are now


going to be required for goods going temporarily into the EU, then the companies involved will have to lodge financial security in the form of a bank guarantee, by paying the Chamber a deposit, or by being liable for an indemnity fee. “One of our customer businesses


has calculated that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it will have to take out an additional 1,200 of these carnet documents a year. So, companies may have to factor in these extra costs. “However, as the body providing


these certifications, we do have the necessary knowledge. Along with business, we are still seeking clarity on aspects of Brexit, but have done this certification work for a long time. We are actively working with the government and we can give companies the help, reassurance and advice they need.”


4 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


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