EU trade-compliance guides

CE marking requirements impose specific obligations on importers to ensure that products placed on the EU market comply with applicable safety, health, and…

Customs post-clearance audits in the EU are risk-based checks conducted after goods have been released to verify compliance with customs legislation.

Postponed VAT accounting (PVA) allows EU businesses importing goods to account for import VAT on their regular VAT return instead of paying it immediately at…

EU businesses importing goods subject to anti-dumping or countervailing duties must issue a commercial invoice for customs that complies with detailed…

An EU supplier declaration is a formal statement by a supplier confirming the preferential origin of goods supplied within the EU or to third countries under…

In EU trade, a certificate of origin is an official document issued by competent governmental authorities confirming the origin of goods, while a statement…

The EU Customs Tariff is the system that determines the customs duties applicable to goods imported into the EU.

The AEO self-assessment questionnaire is a mandatory tool for businesses seeking Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status within the EU.

Centralised clearance allows authorised EU economic operators to lodge customs declarations and complete customs clearance with a single customs office, even…

Cotton bedding classification in the EU hinges on whether the article is considered bedlinen (CN code 6302) or another made-up textile article (CN code…

Moldova became a Contracting Party to the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) preferential rules of origin on 1 September 2015, aligning its…

The harmonized tariff schedule code, commonly known as the HS Code, is an internationally standardized system for classifying traded products.

EU businesses importing alcoholic products must classify these goods according to the Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes established under Council Regulation…

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (the EU official controls regulation) establishes comprehensive rules for official controls on agri-food imports into the EU…

EU market surveillance requires businesses placing products on the EU market to ensure compliance with applicable safety and technical regulations.

EU businesses placing products on the market must ensure those products are safe under the EU General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC.

RAPEX is the European Union’s rapid alert system for unsafe consumer products, enabling swift information exchange among Member States and the Commission to…

The Combined Nomenclature (CN) is the EU’s system for classifying goods in trade, essential for customs declarations and tariff application.

EU businesses importing goods under tariff quotas may be required to lodge an EU customs quota security deposit either when applying for quota authorisation…

EU poultry import regulations require updated veterinary certificates for poultry and poultry products imported into the EU single market.

The EU-UK trade agreement rules of origin determine whether goods traded between the EU and the UK qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the Trade…

The UCC transitional provisions establish temporary rules allowing EU businesses and customs authorities to continue using certain legacy systems, formats…

The European Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform will be discontinued on 20 July 2025, with complaint submissions ending on 20 March 2025.

The EU GSP scheme offers preferential import duty reductions on cereals imported into the EU from eligible countries.

The EU deforestation regulation imposes mandatory due diligence obligations on operators who place certain commodities on the EU market, requiring them to…

Under CETA, benefits can be denied to EU businesses if they are owned or controlled by third-country investors from countries subject to restrictive measures…

EU companies investing in Canada must comply with CETA investment screening rules, including thresholds for review and net benefit assessments.

Restricted party screening is a critical compliance process for EU service providers to identify individuals or entities subject to trade or security…

The HS 2027 changes introduce updates to the Harmonized System (HS) and the Combined Nomenclature (CN) used across the EU for customs classification.

HS codes form the global basis for product classification, the Combined Nomenclature (CN) is the EU’s 8-digit system based on HS, and TARIC codes extend CN…

Cumulation of origin allows EU businesses to consider materials originating in certain partner countries as originating materials when incorporated into…

Customs debt arises when goods are placed under customs procedures or released for free circulation in the EU.

General Rule of Interpretation 3(b) (GRI 3(b)) applies when goods are prima facie classifiable under two or more headings.

EU businesses operating within the single market must conduct aml sanctions screening to identify and prevent dealings with sanctioned persons and entities…

Denied party screening is a critical compliance step for EU businesses trading under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada.

EU companies operating within the single market must conduct thorough pep and sanctions checks to identify designated persons and entities subject to…

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada provides EU businesses with improved access to Canadian public procurement…

PEP screening is a mandatory due diligence process for EU businesses to identify and manage risks linked to Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

EU businesses operating within the single market must comply with EU sanctions lists, which identify designated persons, entities, and bodies subject to…

PEP checks are a critical component of EU financial sanctions compliance, requiring businesses operating within the EU single market to identify and manage…

EU sanctions on Russia impose comprehensive restrictions on trade, finance, and services involving Russian entities and individuals.

For EU import declarations, customs value is primarily based on the transaction value—the price actually paid or payable for the goods.

Under Incoterms DDP, DAP, and EXW, the responsibility for paying import duty varies significantly.

EU businesses importing from or exporting to the UK under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) may claim preferential tariff treatment by…

EU AEO status is a certification granted to economic operators demonstrating compliance with customs and security standards, enabling them to benefit from…

CN classification goods are subject to specific EU Implementing Regulations that define their correct Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes.

The colostrum powder HS code depends on its composition and intended use, with common classifications under CN codes 0408 (milk and cream products), 2106…

The Pan-Euro-Med origin rules establish the criteria for determining the originating status of goods traded between the EU and Albania, enabling preferential…

EU-Switzerland rules of origin under the Pan-Euro-Med system enable preferential tariff treatment for goods traded between the EU, Switzerland, and other…

The EUR-MED certificate is a key document used by businesses within the Pan-Euro-Med Convention area to prove the preferential origin of goods.