Starting out in Import / Export

Before you start

Businesses will become involved in importing and exporting for various reasons. Usually because want to increase your sales abroad or import a new product to sell on your website. Perhaps import components for your business.

Despite its many advantages, importing and exporting is complicated and can be expensive. There are a host of rules to provide stumbling blocks for you. Here follows a list of some areas to be aware of.

Are Your Products Suitable for Import or Export?

It is important to look at the requirements when you plan to import or export
Although most products are suitable, some are restricted in the UK; including these:

Some foods, flowers, plants or seeds, types of electronic equipment and certain art objects and antiques.
Each country has a different list of restricted products. You should always find out as soon as possible if the product you wish to import or export is restricted.

Some products must have a license from the DTI Import Licensing Branch to be imported legally.

Will Your Products Work in the Country Exported to?

It is important to know if the product will work. If you import an electrical item, does it have this country’s electrical specification agreement? Will it need a British connector plug?
Are the instructions and details in the English or the language of receiving country?
Most countries require readable product instructions by law.

For Example:

Your company imports a Television to resell in the UK; it arrives with a European style plug attached and instructions in French. Your customer will not be able to use it. Even if they could, to read the instructions would need 6 months language classes. Not acceptable to either the customer or your company. This is an example of a small problem with import/export. The problems are greater and must be watched carefully.

Be aware that you need to add the cost of modifications or extras to the product price.
Will your customers be happy paying for them, especially if there are no English instructions.
So, another cost to translate the instructions and have them printed. Not a good start to the import dream.

When exporting, the reverse is true. Are your customers happy to have English instructions, do they have different electrical safety requirements? Are the plugs different (In most cases, if not all, this is true).
Work needs to be done to avoid the pitfalls shown here.

- 16th September 2004

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