Straight answers on moving freight into the UK.
Guides and definitions for importers, retailers and growers. Written by the team that files the declarations, not by a marketing department.
Importing fresh produce into the UK: customs clearance
CDS declarations, IPAFFS pre-notification, phytosanitary certificates, Border Control Post checks, and how duty and VAT are settled.
Read the guideAll cargoGB to Northern Ireland and Ireland produce movements
The Windsor Framework and NIRMS for Northern Ireland, and full EU export procedure for the Republic.
Read the guideAll cargoIncoterms for perishables
Who carries the risk and who pays, on each of the terms you'll meet in produce.
Read the guideAll cargoCommon terms in UK cold chain shipments
The terms you'll meet on a produce import, defined in a sentence or two each.
Open the glossaryHS code lookup
Find the commodity code for what you're shipping, anywhere in the UK tariff.
Open the lookupAll cargoCustoms clearance audit
Think an entry was misfiled and you overpaid HMRC? Send it over and we'll check whether there's a claim.
Start an auditAll cargoPre-shipment documentation checklist
Everything to have ready before a container is booked, so nothing holds it at the border.
Open the checklistAll cargoImport duty and VAT estimator (UK)
Look up a commodity code and see the duty and import VAT due on a consignment.
Open the estimatorAll cargoSea freight transit times to the UK
Typical transit days by origin port and lane, for planning collection and arrival windows.
Open the estimatorNotes from the field on how fresh produce actually moves into the UK, written by the team that files the declarations and books the collections.
Why Getting a Reefer to the UK Is Only Half the Job
Read the articleThe Last 48 Hours: Where Fresh-Produce Supply Chains Succeed or Fail
Read the articleWhy Port Choice Matters More for Fresh Produce Than General Cargo
Read the articleThe True Cost of a Customs Delay for Fresh-Produce Importers
Read the articleFrom Latin America to the UK: What Happens to a Container of Fresh Produce?
Read the articleEverything here reflects requirements as we understand them at the time of writing. Border requirements change, so check gov.uk for the current position, or ask us and we'll confirm it for your consignment.