Cost-effective exports from The UK and across the Globe
Italian exports provide a huge opportunity for UK businesses, but post-Brexit there are more customs requirements when sending shipments from the UK to any of the European countries.
Exporting to Italy from the UK
To eliminate guesswork, use a freight company to handle your shipment and leverage their expertise in both the UK and Italy. Barrington Freight has years of experience to ensure your consignment is not held up by red tape that sees goods stuck in customs costing money and losing business.
Freight to Italy can be sent by road, sea, or air. Barrington Freight can help you select your mode of transportation, and ensure you breeze through customs by being prepared and having your paperwork completed in full. Below are a few tips to get you started exporting from the UK to Italy.
Get an EORI Number Essentials
You will need an EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification Number) for the UK side customs and one for Italy. Failure to have these organised before shipping will likely mean your goods will face delays and incur fees while being held at the Italian border. Visit the UK government advisory page for more details.
Export Requirements
Standards and Regulations
Products and packaging must be up to EU standards for goods transport, but Italy is even more strict again for packaging and labelling than the standard requirements. The Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione (UNI) dictates Italian national standards with the Comitato Elettrotecnico Italiano (CEI) responsible for electrics and electronics regulations. It’s worth doing your research to ensure your goods are compliant.
VAT
VAT is known as IVA in Italy. The standard rate is currently at 22%, with some reduced rates for particular products, including essential foods and some services. You can find out more on the Italian Revenue Agency website. It is important to factor this into your costing for goods clearance.
Who Will Make the Declaration?
You can either DIY or hire a professional. Import declarations are vital pieces of the shipment puzzle so it is important to get it right. Your agent must be established in the country of origin (the UK) with a deep understanding of Italian regulations to ensure smooth transit. We have inhouse agents to help with your customs documents to help you through the entire process when you work with us.
For more information about our services or if you have an unusual load request, reach out to our sales team on 01268 978660 or email sales@barringtonfreight.co.uk.