How do I bring products made in the Baltics or Nordics into the UK?
Goods made in Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia enter the UK without customs duty only if they meet the UK-EU preferential rules of origin, shown by the exporter's statement on origin or the importer's knowledge. UK VAT applies; the standard rate is 20%. For most products Great Britain still recognises CE marking (GOV.UK, updated 21 August 2026).
What does it take to bring products made in the Baltics or Nordics into the UK?
Five steps, with the rules of origin running through all of them. The zero tariff under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement depends on how and where the product is made, and the proof travels with the shipment. Great Britain's product rules apply on top, and some, such as cosmetics notification, must be done before sale.
- Product and label. Check the Great Britain rules for your product group before the artwork is final: a cosmetic needs a UK Responsible Person, a food supplement label must say "food supplement", and CE marking is still recognised for most products.
- Production. Ask the manufacturer where each step happens and where the materials come from. The zero tariff depends on the product meeting the UK-EU preferential rules of origin (HM Revenue and Customs), not on the factory's address.
- Export from the EU. The exporter needs an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number, which Your Europe calls mandatory for businesses that export. It makes out a statement on origin, usually on the invoice, and quotes a REX number when its consignments total more than EUR 6,000.
- Customs clearance and duty. Whoever declares the goods in Great Britain needs a GB EORI number. With a valid origin claim the duty is zero; without one, the UK Global Tariff may apply. Import VAT is due; the standard rate is 20%.
- On sale. A cosmetic must be notified to the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) before it is made available. Consignments of GBP 135 or less sold directly to customers follow a separate VAT rule.
When is the UK duty on EU-made goods zero?
When the goods meet the rules of origin and the importer claims the preference. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) writes: "To export tariff-free under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, goods must meet the UK-EU preferential rules of origin." Goods that do not may have to pay the standard tariff, which for UK imports is the UK Global Tariff.
HMRC adds that the agreement "contains provisions allowing the UK and the EU to cumulate origin" (HMRC).
A factory address in the EU is not the test: the preferential rules decide origin product by product. These preferential rules are separate from the non-preferential rules behind "Made in" claims; see Can I put "Made in EU" on my private label product?.
Which documents prove origin, and who holds them?
The exporter's statement on origin, or the importer's own knowledge. HMRC describes these two ways to claim the zero rate: the exporter makes out a statement on origin, usually on the invoice, or the importer claims from its own knowledge that the goods originate. For imports into the UK a statement is valid for 2 years.
| Document or number | Who needs it | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement on origin | The EU exporter makes it out, usually on the invoice | For the zero tariff; valid 2 years for UK imports | HMRC |
| REX number | The EU exporter | When its consignments total more than EUR 6,000 | HMRC |
| EU EORI number | The EU exporter | To export goods from the EU | Your Europe |
| GB EORI number | Whoever moves the goods into Great Britain, or the person appointed to deal with customs | On the import declaration | GOV.UK |
| UK VAT number on the import declaration | A VAT-registered importer | To use postponed VAT accounting | HMRC |
| Cosmetic product notification | The UK Responsible Person | Before the product is made available in Great Britain | OPSS |
If an origin claim cannot be backed, the preference falls away. HMRC's guidance for the opposite direction warns that when origin cannot be confirmed, "your EU customer will be liable to pay the full rate of Customs Duty"; preference can also be refused when no reply to a verification request arrives within 10 months.
What VAT is due on goods brought into the UK?
Import VAT. GOV.UK states: "The standard VAT rate is 20%". A UK VAT-registered business importing goods for business use can use postponed VAT accounting, which means it declares and recovers import VAT on the same VAT return instead of paying at the border (HMRC).
Its VAT number must be on the import declaration, an agent needs written instructions, and the choice cannot be changed once the declaration is submitted.
Small consignments sold straight to consumers work differently. For consignments of GBP 135 or less sold directly to customers in the UK, "the seller must charge and account for VAT at the point of sale" (HMRC). Business sales where the customer gives a UK VAT number are the exception.
These consignments also benefit from a customs duty relief that is due to end. The government intends its reforms to take effect "by March 2029 at the latest" (HM Treasury, updated 13 July 2026); consignments of GBP 135 or less will then no longer be duty-free. Until then the relief still applies.
Is CE marking enough for Great Britain, or do I need UKCA?
For most products CE marking is enough today. GOV.UK says the UK "continues to recognise the CE marking, alongside or in place of the UKCA marking, for the Great Britain market" (Office for Product Safety and Standards, updated 21 August 2026). The page gives no end date. Sector rules differ, so check yours.
A business that uses the UK's own UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking may place it on a label or an accompanying document until 11pm on 31 December 2027, or on the product itself.
What do cosmetics and food supplements need in Great Britain?
A cosmetic needs a UK Responsible Person and a notification before sale. OPSS writes: "All cosmetic products available to consumers must have a 'Responsible Person'." That person needs a UK established address, which "does not include mail forwarding or PO box addresses", and notifies the product before it is made available in Great Britain.
The Responsible Person can be the manufacturer, the importer, a distributor that labels the product as its own, or a company or person appointed to the role. Notifications go through the Submit cosmetic product notifications (SCPN) service: as of 28 May 2026 it had received 861,686 notifications from 24,112 registered Responsible Persons (GOV.UK).
A food supplement sold in England, Wales or Northern Ireland must be labelled "food supplement", not "dietary supplement", with the recommended daily dose and "a warning not to exceed this", a statement to keep it out of the reach of young children, and "a statement that food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet" (Food Standards Agency, page of 2018). The business also registers with its local authority.
How long does sea freight to the UK take?
From the Baltics and Finland, three to seven days quay to quay on one carrier's 2026 schedule. Samskip lists Klaipėda to Hull in 3 days, Riga to Hull in 5 and Helsinki to Hull in 7, each with a weekly sailing. That is one short-sea carrier, not an official timetable, and it leaves out Tallinn and Gothenburg.
| From | To Hull (UK) | To Rotterdam |
|---|---|---|
| Klaipėda | 3 | 5 |
| Riga | 5 | 7 |
| Helsinki | 7 | 9 |
Which manufacturers on NordSourced already name the UK as an export market?
26 of the 443 manufacturers listed on NordSourced name the UK among their export markets on their own website. They are below in alphabetical order; the order is not a ranking. Naming a market is the manufacturer's own statement. It does not tell you whether your product meets the rules of origin or Great Britain's product rules.
| Manufacturer | Country | Product groups |
|---|---|---|
| Akola Group | Lithuania | Food & beverages |
| Amber Latvijas Balzams | Latvia | Beverages |
| Aukmergės baldai | Lithuania | Furniture & interior |
| Bars Production | Sweden | Food supplements, Food & beverages |
| Belid Lighting Group | Sweden | Furniture & interior |
| Bioglan | Sweden | Cosmetics |
| Cita Lieta (Ceano Cosmetics) | Latvia | Cosmetics |
| Cosmetic Lab | Latvia | Cosmetics |
| Cosmetics Nord | Latvia | Cosmetics |
| Futures Nutrition | Lithuania | Food supplements |
| Galinta | Lithuania | Food & beverages |
| Gauya Furniture | Latvia | Furniture & interior |
| Hailia Nordic | Finland | Food & beverages |
| Icecofish | Lithuania | Food & beverages |
| INTERSCALIT | Lithuania | Home textiles |
| IVO | Lithuania | Furniture & interior |
| Lami Super Booster | Estonia | Cosmetics |
| Lezza Foods | Sweden | Food & beverages |
| Made Group | Lithuania | Food supplements |
| Morozov & Son | Latvia | Furniture & interior |
| Nordic Idea | Lithuania | Furniture & interior |
| Raguvos baldai | Lithuania | Furniture & interior |
| Ritamum Pharma | Lithuania | Food supplements |
| Siūlas | Lithuania | Home textiles, Apparel |
| Tebesa | Lithuania | Apparel |
And 1 more in the directory.
Questions and answers
Can I sell products from a Baltic or Nordic manufacturer on Amazon UK?
The sales channel does not change the duty: the zero tariff still turns on the UK-EU rules of origin, and Great Britain's product rules, such as the Responsible Person for cosmetics, apply to the goods. HMRC's point-of-sale VAT rule covers consignments of GBP 135 or less sold directly to UK customers, so ask the marketplace how it handles VAT on its orders.
What duty applies to goods made in Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia?
Zero, if they meet the UK-EU preferential rules of origin and the importer claims the preference with a statement on origin or its own knowledge. Goods that do not meet the rules may have to pay the UK Global Tariff, the standard rate the UK applies to imports. A factory address in the EU is not the test on its own.
Who is the importer for UK customs, the manufacturer or me?
GOV.UK does not name one party for a sale between an EU manufacturer and a UK buyer, so your sales terms settle who declares the goods. Whoever does needs a GB EORI number. GOV.UK tells a business that cannot get one: "you'll need to appoint someone to deal with customs on your behalf". That person gets the EORI number instead.
Do I need a UK responsible person?
For cosmetics, yes. Every cosmetic product available to consumers in Great Britain needs a Responsible Person with a UK established address, and a PO box or mail forwarding address does not count. The manufacturer, the importer or an appointed company can take the role. Other product groups follow their own Great Britain rules, which this guide does not list one by one.
What documents come with a shipment from an EU manufacturer?
For the zero tariff, a statement on origin from the exporter, usually on the invoice, valid 2 years for UK imports. The exporter quotes a REX number when its consignments total more than EUR 6,000. The import declaration carries the declarant's GB EORI number and, for postponed VAT accounting, the importer's UK VAT number.
Can I get samples into the UK before ordering?
Yes; samples are goods like any other. A consignment worth GBP 135 or less still benefits from a customs duty relief, which the government plans to remove by March 2029 at the latest. Above that value the rules on this page apply in full, so ask the manufacturer to put a statement on origin on the sample invoice as well.
Is the GBP 135 customs duty relief ending?
Yes, but not yet. HM Treasury, in a page updated 13 July 2026, says it intends its reforms to take effect "by March 2029 at the latest", after which consignments of GBP 135 or less will no longer be duty-free. The relief still applies today, and no exact start date has been published.
Will UKCA marking replace CE marking in Great Britain soon?
Not on the current guidance. The government page updated 21 August 2026 says Great Britain continues to recognise CE marking alongside or in place of UKCA for most products, and it gives no end date. Sector rules vary. A business choosing UKCA may still put it on a label or accompanying document until 31 December 2027.
Does a cosmetic notified in the EU need a separate notification for Great Britain?
Yes. Before a cosmetic product is made available in Great Britain, the UK Responsible Person must submit information on it to OPSS through the Submit cosmetic product notifications service. The rule covers every cosmetic product made available to consumers there. By 28 May 2026 the service had received 861,686 notifications from 24,112 registered Responsible Persons.
How do I label a food supplement for Great Britain?
Call it a "food supplement", not a "dietary supplement". The Food Standards Agency, whose page covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland, also asks for the name and address of the business, the recommended daily dose with a warning not to exceed it, a statement to keep it out of the reach of young children, a statement that supplements do not replace a varied diet, and allergens emphasised in the ingredients.
What is a REX number, and does my manufacturer need one?
It is the reference number an EU exporter uses on a statement on origin. HMRC says the EU exporter needs one when its consignments total more than EUR 6,000. Ask a manufacturer that will ship to you regularly for its REX number before the first order.
Which Baltic manufacturers already export to the UK?
21 manufacturers in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia listed on NordSourced name the UK among their export markets on their own website, for example Akola Group, Amber Latvijas Balzams, Aukmergės baldai, Cita Lieta (Ceano Cosmetics). That is their own statement, not proof that your product meets the rules of origin. The full list, with Swedish and Finnish manufacturers, is in the table above.
How long does it take to ship from Riga to the UK?
About five days quay to quay from Riga to Hull on Samskip's 2026 schedule, with a weekly sailing. The same schedule gives three days from Klaipėda and seven from Helsinki. It is one carrier's timetable, not an official one, so loading, customs clearance and the road leg come on top.
Where to go next
Sources
- Introduction to rules of origin and claiming duties when trading between the UK and EU, HM Revenue and Customs, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Proving originating status and claiming a reduced rate of Customs Duty for trade between the UK and EU (updated 20 December 2022), HM Revenue and Customs, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- VAT rates, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Check when you can account for import VAT on your VAT Return (updated 16 June 2025), HM Revenue and Customs, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- VAT and overseas goods sold directly to customers in the UK (updated 13 May 2022), HM Revenue and Customs, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Reforming the customs treatment of low value imports into the United Kingdom (updated 13 July 2026), HM Treasury, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Get an EORI number, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Using the UKCA marking (updated 21 August 2026), Office for Product Safety and Standards, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Making cosmetic products available to consumers in Great Britain, Office for Product Safety and Standards, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- New data on UK cosmetic product safety notifications (17 July 2026), GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Food supplements (2018), Food Standards Agency, GOV.UK. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Customs duties and procedures: imports (EORI), Your Europe, European Commission. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
- Baltic Sea Finland Services 2026 (carrier schedule), Samskip. Checked 13 Oct 2026.
Directory figures are counted from the manufacturers listed on NordSourced, each listed because its own website says it makes products for other brands; see how we check. This page is general information, not legal advice. Found a mistake? Tell us.