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The decision of the UK to leave the EU means change. Addressing the challenges of the UK leaving the EU, particularly without any deal, requires response at EU level, by Government, by citizens and responses by businesses and affected sectors.

As part of our preparedness and contingency planning, the Irish Government identified that companies buying goods from the UK may be impacted by Brexit, such as clothes boutiques, florists, salons, hardware stores and electrical goods shops.

The following is the latest Government advice available to help you to minimise any disruption to your business, if you operate in this sector.

Latest advice

In a no deal scenario, the UK will become a ‘third country’ for trading purposes. This will mean that new rules will apply for businesses importing, exporting or moving goods through the UK.

It is important that businesses undertake the necessary preparations to comply with these rules. Businesses should note that incomplete or inaccurate information in relation to customs declarations and procedures will lead to delays with knock-on impacts for your business.

All businesses

• All businesses that import, export or move their goods and materials from or through the UK need to register with Revenue for a customs number (EORI number). This applies irrespective of the volume or value of trade undertaken.
• All businesses should review their supply chain to assess how it may be affected and build contingency into their business planning and cash flow management. This may include instances where your business relies on products brought in from the UK through a distributor.
• Check if your business relies on products or services that are certified to conformity with EU regulations and standards by a UK body. These certificates or licences may no longer be valid in a no deal scenario and you will need to take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with EU regulations and standards. For further information, please see certification and licensing. Likewise, businesses are advised to monitor any changes that UK authorities may make over time to their regulatory requirements.
• Engage with any trade representative body of which you are a member. They can assist you in preparing for Brexit. Businesses can avail of free customs training through Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and the Local Enterprise Offices which aim to give businesses an understanding of the key customs concepts, documentation and processes required to succeed post-Brexit.

Businesses importing directly from the UK

• Businesses need to prepare for any new customs arrangements and regulatory checks and the impact they will have on their business. These include:
  • Any requirements for pre-declarations and for health and safety checks for certain categories of goods (including animal or animal products, plants, plant products and wood packaging), and certain food products.
  • Any required customs documentation and procedures for the payment of any customs and excise duties or VAT due on imports from third countries, including the UK in the event of a no deal scenario. Businesses will need to plan for this in terms of cash flow. Government has put in place postponed VAT accounting to reduce the impact of new arrangements on businesses’ cash flow.
• Businesses are advised to consider how they will handle these customs and regulatory formalities. These can be managed in-house or by a customs broker/agent. Either option requires planning and time.
• If your products are transported using wood packaging or pallets, check that the wood is International Standard for Phytosanitary Measure No. 15 (ISPM15) compliant.

More information available on gov.ie/brexit

Further information is available from www.gov.ie/brexit, is regularly updated with the latest developments so do check back regularly. This Government website provides practical advice to help businesses and citizens around the country to prepare for Brexit.  

Notes to editors

Media Contacts

For customs

Revenue

revpress@revenue.ie

Expert interviews may be available upon request.

For supply chain & business supports

Press.office@dbei.gov.ie

Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation

01 6312200

Expert interviews & case studies may be available upon request.

For Animals, Animal Products & Wood packaging

Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine

press@agriculture.gov.ie

For certification & standards

National Standards Authority of Ireland

Deirdre Farrelly

pressoffice@nsai.ie

01 807 3804

For trading chemicals, product certification of machinery, pressure equipment and cylinders, and accreditation

Health and Safety Authority

Gavin Lonergan

Head of communications & Customer Relations

01 799 7838

Government contingency work in this area

The Irish Government, working with the EU, has a comprehensive Contingency Action Plan to implement measures to mitigate the impact of Brexit. Since June 2016, the Government has put in place a suite of supports to help businesses, of all shapes and sizes and across all sectors of the economy, to prepare for Brexit. These supports are aimed at assisting business in all scenarios, including ‘No Deal’.

Leading Government Departments and agencies have consistently engaged with businesses to outline the steps that need to be taken to help businesses prepare for a new post-Brexit trading regime trade with the UK post Brexit.

Regarding this area, here are some of the measures that have recently been undertaken:

• Revenue has developed a comprehensive Trader Engagement Programme which has included direct letter contact with businesses, and briefing events across the country and experts speaking at a range of Brexit related events for the last number of years.
• Revenue directly wrote to approximately 84,000 individual companies (comprising three distinct trader groupings: large businesses, haulage/logistics companies and small and medium enterprises) to make them aware that trade with the UK post-Brexit will need to be conducted under the customs regime. The contact also provided advice and assistance in preparing for this change and to encourage them to engage with their supply chain partners and customs brokers or agents.
• Additionally, large businesses, hauliers and logistic companies were invited to attend dedicated Revenue Brexit seminars where additional information and advice on customs procedures, special procedures and simplifications was provided.
• Businesses also had an opportunity to engage with Customs experts, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the HSE’s Environmental Health service, Enterprise Ireland, the Health & Safety Authority and other State Agencies and obtain detailed support and guidance particular to their business.
• Separate events were held for Customs software providers and customs agents to raise awareness of the likely increased demand for their services post-Brexit.
• Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation is continuing to work with Brexit exposed firms, in particular clients of Enterprise Ireland (EI), IDA and the local enterprise offices (LEOs). The Department and its agencies have substantially reoriented their suites of enterprise supports, strategies and structures to cover the spectrum of potential Brexit impacts from liquidity support through short-term working capital loans for SMEs impacted by Brexit, to restructuring aid for businesses in severe operating difficulties.
• The Department is working with Enterprise Ireland to develop a Brexit targeted liquidity scheme to provide funding support to enterprises negatively impacted by the sudden changes in trading conditions, in order that they can adjust to these changed circumstances. 
• Enterprise Ireland also launched online customs training to help businesses to prepare for its customs obligations. This free online course covers both import and export procedures.
• Dedicated Budget measures to get Ireland Brexit Ready were announced in Budgets 2017, 2018, and 2019. This included
  • €600m Brexit package for farmers, fisherman and food small businesses over the three budgets
  • €450m for business supports in 2017/2018

The full suite of preparedness supports are available at www.gov.ie/brexit > Brexit & Business > Government supports.

Useful numbers

• Over 84,000 businesses were identified as likely traders with the UK and were directly contacted by letter by Revenue to outline new measures and procedures
• Over 80 Brexit related event have taken place in 21 counties since September 2018 alone. The calendar is available at www.dfa.ie/brexit.
• There have been over 4,000 participants at LEO Brexit Information events
• Over 470 micro enterprises have been funded by LEOs to explore and develop new markets under the Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters (TAME) supports
• Over 5,000 companies have engaged with InterTradeIreland’s Brexit Advisory Service with almost 1,200 of the Brexit Start to Plan vouchers approved.
• €600m Brexit package for farmers, fisherman and food small businesses over the three budgets
• €450m for business supports in 2017/2018.

www.gov.ie/brexit