Restricted goods: licences and controls for UK imports and exports

Which goods need a licence or certificate to be imported into the UK

Some goods need a licence or certificate on top of the customs declaration. According to gov.uk — Import goods into the UK, special rules cover, among others:

• animals and animal products, and plants and plant products,
• high-risk food (see exporting food to the UK),
• human and veterinary medicines,
• controlled drugs, precursor chemicals and hazardous chemicals,
• waste, equipment containing F-gases and nuclear material,
• guns, knives, swords and other weapons subject to import controls (see gov.uk — Import controls on offensive weapons),
• goods that could be used for capital punishment or torture (see ECJU Notice 24).

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How to check whether your goods are restricted

Start with the correct commodity code — according to gov.uk it determines the rate of duty and whether you need an import licence (more about the HS code). Then check the code in the UK Trade Tariff. Also make sure the exporter is allowed to send the goods from the country of dispatch — they may need their own licences or certificates. If you are unsure about classification, consider applying for a binding tariff decision: ATaR in the UK, and a BTI in the EU (see binding tariff information in the EU and ATaR in the UK). For typical documents, see the article on certificates needed when importing into the UK.

Exporting from the UK: strategic goods controls

Exporting military goods and dual-use items from Great Britain requires an export licence. A Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) allows you to ship a stated quantity of specified items to a named consignee or end-user; it is issued by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU). The application needs supporting documents such as an end-user undertaking, and a licence for permanent exports is generally valid for 2 years or until the quantity has been exported (gov.uk — SIELs). If you can meet the terms of an open general export licence (OGEL), that may be a simpler route. Read more about dual-use goods and in the article on whether dual-use goods can be transported without a licence.

CITES-protected species

Moving CITES specimens into or out of Great Britain requires a permit issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). It applies to species listed in Annexes A, B and C, and imports of Annex A specimens are allowed only in exceptional circumstances. Moving specimens without a permit can lead to a prison sentence of up to 7 years and an unlimited fine (gov.uk — CITES).

What happens if you import without the required licence

Goods declared without a required licence or certificate may be held by the border authorities, and serious breaches can lead to sanctions under specific legislation. For what to do, see what to do if customs control holds your goods. If you import controlled goods such as firearms, keep paperwork that shows who owns them; records of goods declared to HMRC must be kept for 4 years (gov.uk — Archiving your trade documents).

Who is responsible for classification and licences

The importer or exporter is responsible for correct classification and for holding the required authorisations. A customs agent acts as a representative: with indirect representation the agent is jointly liable with the client, while with direct representation generally not. Agree the scope of the power of attorney in writing and who supplies the licence before the declaration is made. Contact us and we will check your commodity code and the list of required documents; see also our UK customs agency services. Transport of dangerous goods is covered separately: transport of dangerous goods UK–EU.

Frequently asked questions