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Restricted Goods: What Are They & What Happens If You Import Them Anyway

by | Dec 28, 2023 | Knowledge Base

Restricted Goods What Are They & What Happens If You Import Them Anyway1

Certain goods are restricted from import and export in the UK. Ever wondered what might happen to those that go ahead and do it anyway?

Find out here…

What Goods Are Restricted?

Restricted goods are items which are either outright banned or those that can only be imported or exported under a license. 

There’s a long list, but here are some examples to demonstrate just how broad-ranging these things are:

Prohibited

  • Weapons
  • Controlled drugs
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Indecent material
  • Rough diamonds

Requiring Permissions Or Licenses

  • Agricultural products. These may need a particular import license.
  • Bees. Yep, bees! When shipping bees, you need permission from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). 
  • Cash. If the cash being moved is suspected of being unlawfully gained or for unlawful purposes, sums of over £1k can be seized.
  • Dairy can only be imported to approved border inspection posts.
  • Poultry semen. You read that right! This commodity is prohibited unless it’s shipped under a specific license. 
  • Plants require a phytosanitary certificate to be moved between countries.
  • Items made in prisons require express permission to be shipped outside of the UK.
  • Toxic chemicals may require a license and even consent to import from the government of the destination country.

Import Regulations In The UK

How and why goods are restricted and which goods should be governed is decided by different agencies. Some of them include…

Food Standards Agency

The FSA is a part of the UK government that is responsible for maintaining the safety of food-related goods for people buying and consuming them in our country. 

The FSA website provides extensive resources guiding businesses on the regulations for importing and exporting everything from wine to high-risk foods. It also details controls that exist over certain foodstuffs from certain countries, whether that’s relating to specific conditions of import or completely prohibited goods.

HMRC

HMRC is the department of the UK government responsible for assessing and collecting taxes. Using their Trade Tariff, businesses can look up commodity codes, duty and VAT rates – the website can also be used to find out more about prohibitions and restrictions enforced by customs on goods from other countries.

Department Of Agriculture, Food And The Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is a government department in Ireland responsible for regulating the agri-food sector and supporting the rural economy and environment, protecting public health. 

Restricted GoodsWhat Are They & What Happens If You Import Them Anyway2

What Happens If You Import Restricted Goods?

Rules are rules. If you decide it’s a good idea to bring in restricted goods anyway – without applying for the appropriate licenses – you already know that the risks are going to be high.

Restricted goods are restricted for a reason, and by bringing them in, you’re breaking the law.

If found out, you are likely to either have your goods seized and face legal prosecution or face hefty fines.

How To Bring In Restricted Goods Legally

Bringing in restricted goods legally to the UK is one thing, but remember to never bring in prohibited goods. Those are strictly banned, and, similarly to the illegal import or export of restricted goods, shipping them means you’re breaking the law.

Businesses wishing to legally import restricted goods into the UK must follow UK government guidelines. The government website provides a detailed list of banned and restricted goods to help businesses understand what is allowed and what’s not.

Restricted items range from firearms to various plant products, and many require special licenses. 

Here are the steps you need to follow if you want to legally import restricted goods into the UK…

  • Check the UK government website to see if the goods you want to import require specific certification or a particular license. 
  • Set the groundwork for becoming an importer working with restricted goods. This means registering for an EORI number and VAT 45 as well as applying for a license to import restricted goods themselves, whether that’s chemicals, animal products or even plants. The process for each restricted good will differ, so make sure you get the right info!
  • Declare your goods to customs. 
  • Find out the commodity code for your goods. Commodity codes are ten-digit numbers allocated to goods that help to classify and track imports. You can look up commodity codes using the government’s Trade Tariff. 
  • Check if you can reduce your Customs Duty. 

By following these steps, you can rest assured that you are legally importing restricted goods into the UK. 

Restricted Goods Come With Rules

Importing restricted goods is a delicate business. To avoid your goods being seized, legal prosecution or having to spend out on costly fines, ensure you tick all of the boxes when it comes to bringing restricted goods into the UK.

Millennium can help you with your shipping needs, whether that’s sound advice or practical solutions to challenging freight problems. Get in touch today and find out what we can do for you!

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