October 10, 2019

Brexit: HMRC Impact Assessment For The Movement Of Goods If The UK Leaves The EU Without A Deal

 One of the conclusions of the document published by HM Customs and Revenue is that “UK supply chains face an additional £15 billion annual cost burden in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”

This is the third edition of the impact assessment that was first published on 4 December 2018. This edition includes the impacts of the customs, VAT and excise regulations laid before Parliament in February, March and September 2019, and the EU Withdrawal Act 2018, and adds to the impacts that were published on 25 February 2019.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the customs, VAT and excise arrangements in place as a result of the UK being part of the EU will no longer apply. The UK would no longer be subject to EU law and new legislation will be needed to replicate the current rules for trade with non-EU countries, ensuring that this also applies to EU trade. VAT and excise legislation will need to be amended to reflect the fact that the UK is no longer part of the EU.

One section relevant for the ferry industry is C1 (ii and iii) “Movement of goods from roll on roll off ports”.