Preparing for No-deal Brexit: Temporary Exports

Overview

Following recent developments in Parliament, the risk that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October 2019 without a deal has now diminished. However, given the Government’s determination to respect the result of 2016’s referendum, it is still important for businesses to prepare for the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal at a future point.

Temporarily moving high value equipment for filming on site or taking promotional material for a trade show from the UK to another country is considered a temporary export. At the moment there is no restriction on the temporary export of goods within the EU, unless it belongs to a controlled or sensitive category group. But after the UK leaves the EU, this may no longer be the case.

Temporary Exports

This advice applies to anyone needing to temporarily export goods from the UK for business reasons above a certain value such as

• Commercial samples to show at trade fairs or sales meetings
• Publicity materials
• Recorded film and audio
• Professional equipment you need for work like laptops, cameras or sound equipment
• Goods for educational, scientific or cultural purposes
• Personal effects and sporting goods

Most countries around the world have a limit on the value of goods you can bring in for free. Hence, applying for an ATA Carnet maybe the best route for you to temporarily export your goods. Without an ATA Carnet, it would be necessary to go through each country’s customs procedures and may require lodging a temporary import bond.

ATA Carnets are usable in 78 countries and allow movement of the goods shown on the Carnet as many times as required within a 12-month period to any destination applied for. Note that goods being sent to Taiwan require a Taiwan Carnet.

Each country has its own rules about what goods you can bring in with an ATA Carnet so please check with the issuer in the country you’re exporting to.

ATA Carnet

You can apply for an ATA Carnet either online or by post. If you’re using a freight forwarder, they will usually fill this in for you.

ATA carnets are issued by Chambers of Commerce or similar issuing associations that are approved by the customs authorities in the country where they operate.

In the UK ATA carnets for goods to be temporarily exported from the UK can be bought from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its offices in:

the City of London

Barking

Hounslow (Middlesex)

They can also be bought from the following Chambers of Commerce:

Belfast

Birmingham

Bradford

Bristol

Dorset (Poole)

Edinburgh

Glasgow

Leicester

Liverpool

Manchester

Newcastle upon Tyne (Durham)

Northampton

Norwich

Nottingham

Portsmouth

Southampton

Thames Valley

Further Information

Regularly check the GOV.UK website for updates. If you need more information about your obligations and what you need to do to comply, we recommend seeking legal advice.

In the meantime, if you have any further questions, please email konrad.shek@adassoc.org.uk.