Brexit and the Timber Industry

Getting started

1. Get an Get an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number that starts with GB.
2. Decide if you want to make customs declarations yourself or get help
3. You may need to buy specialist software to use simplified procedures.
4. You could be entitled to financial help to help your business complete customs declarations.
5. If you already have authorisations to use special or simplified procedures check if they still apply.
6. If you do not already use simplified customs procedures, find out if you can register to use transitional simplified procedures. You can also find out about making declarations using transitional simplified procedures. This can make it easier for you to import goods from the EU.

In a No Deal Brexit, you’ll need to follow the same Customs rules if you import from anywhere outside the UK.

In a No Deal Brexit, UK businesses that import goods will need to apply the same procedures to EU trade that apply when trading with the rest of the world.

HMRC has introduced transitional simplified procedures to help businesses import goods from the EU. We’ll review them 3 to 6 months after they’re introduced.

This guidance does not apply to moving goods between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

If the UK leaves the EU without an agreement, the government will introduce postponed accounting for import VAT on goods brought into the UK. This means that UK VAT registered businesses importing goods to the UK will be able to account for import VAT on their VAT return, rather than paying import VAT on or soon after the time that the goods arrive at the UK border. This will apply both to imports from the EU and non-EU countries.

Click here for more information.

Exporting

To continue to comply with the EUTR, EU and EEA businesses would be required to apply due diligence to imports from the UK. As a result, it is likely that UK-based exporters would need to provide relevant documentation about the source and legality of their timber exports to EU and EEA-based importers to enable their customers to meet their due diligence obligations under the EUTR.

The documents will need to allow EU importers of UK products to fulfil the due diligence requirements of the EUTR given above. EU and EEA businesses importing timber from the UK that is covered by a CITES import permit will not need to conduct due diligence.

The TTF’s technical notice provides further detail on the impact of a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit on the timber industry.

Importing

In the case of a No Deal Brexit, anyone importing timber from the EU into the UK will now have to undertake full due diligence of their products to adhere to our Responsible Purchasing Policy.

From 31st October, importers of EU timber will be considered ‘Operators’ and will be obliged to exercise due diligence that concludes negligible risk of illegally harvested timber entering their supply chain.

For more information, click here.

Executive Summary

• UK Notified Bodies will no longer be able to support CE marking
• UK Notified Bodies will automatically become UK Accreditation Bodies
• Products placed on the UK market will still require accreditation
• UK Manufacturers can choose CE marking or the new UK Accreditation mark.
• Products exported to EU or delivered directly from outside EU must be CE marked
• Manufacturers must transfer away from current UK Notified Body to continue CE marking
• Manufacturers must change logo to start using new UK Accreditation mark
• Manufacturers who mark without a notified body (level 4) can choose CE or UK marking

If you are currently using a UK notified Body such as BM TRADA or CATG to support CE marking for products you are placing on the market, for instance:

• Strength Graded Timber
• Plywood manufactured outside the EU
• Wood Based Panels manufactured in the UK or outside the EU

You should speak to your UK Notified Body to discuss the options available. If you do nothing you are at risk that the construction products you are currently placing on the UK or EU market may no longer be accepted after 1^st November.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/construction-products-regulation-if-there-is-no-brexit-deal and for more information about the new UK Accreditation mark, including samples, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-to-use-the-ukca-mark-after-brexit

In the case of a No Deal Brexit there will be ZERO CUSTOMS DUTY for paper and wood products.

Look up the planned duty rate for your product code here.

The Construction Products Regulation CPR is classified as a “new approach” regulation and so the following information comes from the government guidance paper “Trading goods regulated under the ‘New Approach’ if there’s no Brexit deal”

A critical statement within this Government guidance is: “Products that meet EU requirements can continue to be placed on the UK market without any need for retesting or re-marking, including where they have demonstrated compliance with EU requirements after exit day.”

This means that as a UK Manufacturer or Importer placing CE marked goods for construction on the UK market your business can, in the event of a deal or a no deal scenario, continue to operate legally without significant change.

Members are advised to check with their Notified Body to confirm they have the necessary arrangements in place.

As a consequence of leaving the EU, there will be changes in the longer term principally because the UK will no longer be able to participate in the EU structures developed for implementation of the Construction Products Regulation. This means to pursue the stated objective of “frictionless trade” the UK is developing a parallel system in which:

• The Construction Products Regulation will become UK law.
• Existing harmonised standards such as – EN.14250 for Trussed Rafters (used to demonstrate conformity with EU essential requirements) will become UK ‘designated standards’, used to demonstrate conformity with UK essential requirements. Which, immediately following exit these will be identical to EU essential requirements.
• Notified bodies based in the UK will be granted new UK ‘approved body’ status and listed on a new UK database.
• Approved bodies will be able to assess products for the UK market against UK essential requirements. Which, immediately after exit day in a ‘no deal’ scenario, will be identical to EU essential requirements.
• A new UK conformity mark is being developed by the UK government which manufacturers selling goods on to the UK market will then be able to affix before placing a product on the UK market.

For UK manufacturers wishing to export and place CE marked goods for construction on the EU market, your business can, in the event of a deal or a no deal scenario, continue to operate legally provided the notified body you are using is registered in an EU member state or has a partnership arrangement with such a body.

Click here for more information.

This includes both endangered animals and plants. Find the government’s paper here.