Britons will have to fill in and attach additional forms if they send parcels to the EU starting today.
As part of new rules over the sending of parcels after the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December, the Post Office says that any parcels containing goods or gifts sent from England, Scotland or Wales to the EU should have a customs declaration form attached to it.
The customs label will come into effect on 1 January, but the Post Office advises anyone who sends a parcel from Tuesday to attach the document to help avoid delays.
Amanda Jones, the Post Office's retail and franchise network director, said: “We know that over the past few weeks, many people will have been preoccupied with thoughts about Christmas and the pandemic.
“Postmasters are on hand to provide practical advice, particularly to small businesses, who regularly send parcels to the EU.”
The type of customs form senders will have to complete will depend on the contents and value of their parcel. Senders will be required to write their name, surname and address, a clear description of the contents and whether they are gifts, sold or returned goods, among other things.
The sending of letters, postcards or documents to an EU country should typically be exempt from the customs declaration form.
People posting a parcel from Northern Ireland to the EU will not need to attach a customs declaration form, though one will still be necessary for parcels going to non-EU destinations.
According to Royal Mail, recipients may have to pay customs or VAT charges and a handling fee to claim the parcel depending on their country, the value of the item and whether it is a gift or commercial goods.
A guide to the customs forms is available on the Post Office’s website.
Around 45 percent of the total international parcel traffic received by Post Offices in Great Britain goes to EU destinations.
The Post Office also warns that changes from 1 January mean people will have to be “fully prepared” if they plan to travel to the EU.
That includes securing travel insurance, since the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will no longer be valid for UK citizens, and taking out an International Driving Permit.
Anyone thinking of travelling to an EU destination should also check the validity of their passport before they leave and ensure it has at least six months left on it, the Post Office advises.
It also notes that pet passports will not be valid from 1 January, warning that the process for taking a pet abroad could take as long as four months, and possibly longer.
If the UK is categorised as an “unlisted” country, a pet will need an EU-verified vaccination against rabies, the Post Office states.
Once a pet is vaccinated in the UK, its blood sample needs to be verified by an EU-approved testing facility, it adds.
Additional reporting by PA
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