Take goods with you to sell abroad

There are specific customs requirements for commercial goods that you take with you to sell abroad. You must declare any goods intended for sale outside the UK, whether they are in your baggage or a private vehicle.

The regulations for commercial goods or samples carried by passengers in their accompanied baggage are known as Merchandise in Baggage (MIB). As of January 2024, the threshold for simplified declarations of MIB increased to £2,500 (increased from £1,500). If your goods fall below this threshold, you can make a simple online declaration within five days before your departure.

A full export declaration is necessary if the goods exceed £2,500 in value or if they are subject to excise duty or import/export restrictions.

For Northern Ireland, different rules apply. If you are taking commercial goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain or the EU in your accompanied baggage, no declaration is required.

There are separate procedures for temporarily taking goods abroad (such as samples for a trade fair) or when using a courier or freight forwarder.