Have spoken to a lot of small businesses over the past couple of weeks. Some thoughts on no deal and accidental illegality.
The first thing to say is majority I have spoken to have been preparing. I would say slightly better prepared than in March.
The first thing to say is majority I have spoken to have been preparing. I would say slightly better prepared than in March.
But most will still have missed something. Some examples:
1. Labelling. Post-Brexit all packaged food exports from UK to EU will need address of the EU-based importer or distributer on it. The packaging will no longer be able to show a made in EU stamp.
Few companies know this.
1. Labelling. Post-Brexit all packaged food exports from UK to EU will need address of the EU-based importer or distributer on it. The packaging will no longer be able to show a made in EU stamp.
Few companies know this.
2. Liability. The liability for certifying that a product placed on the EU market conforms with EU standards will shift from UK producer to EU importer. Importer may refuse to take on liability or require additional assurances. Address of EU importer will need to be on product.
3. Visas. When you pop over to the continent to have some meetings, ring some clients, and do some work out of a branch office, can you do that on a business visa or do you need a work visa? Depends - rules vary member state by member state.
But who cares? The big question is, in the immediate aftermath of no deal, are these rules strictly enforced or not? And if so what does enforcement look like? The honest answer is: we won’t know until we know.
