The British Chambers of Commerce and the accredited Chamber network continue to work to avoid a messy and disorderly exit from the EU on 31st October. However, businesses need answers they can base decisions on, no matter the outcome. This includes the trade documentation for use by exporters to prove origin.
Should the UK reach a Withdrawal agreement with the EU, then the existing documents that you currently issue will continue to be used throughout any period of transition. As part of our contingency planning for a no deal Brexit, our colleagues at the BCC have worked closely with HMRC and the DIT on the revised format of preference and non-preference certificates of origin.
In the event of a no-deal Brexit we have made preparationsto enable us to provide you with continuity of service through the issuance of revised "United Kingdom" documentation. This will be ready and available in time for October 31st. If you hold blank certificates for printing at your business premises, then we will contact you in advance to arrange a supply of replacement certificates.
If you are a Chamber customer who has bought bulks of blank EC Certificates of Origin, please note you will be able to exchange these with the new certificates until the end of August 2019. Please get in touch with our Export Documentation team to discuss your exchanging requirements by emailing them at exportdocs@gmchamber.co.uk.
Finally, please bear in mind the replacement certificates or exchanges should only be used in the event that the United Kingdom leaves the EU in a no deal scenario.
If you need further information about the latest development on Brexit or require tailored support to prepare for it, please check our website or email our International Trade team at exportbritain@gmchamber.co.uk to find more about our Brexit preparation services.