Overview

The UK government has introduced a no‑cost export support service to help British Amazon sellers untangle the post‑Brexit customs and regulatory maze. Launched this month, the programme gives direct access to government advisers who can clarify paperwork, duties and market‑specific rules for shipments to the EU and beyond. Sellers aiming to grow on Amazon’s European sites or other overseas marketplaces should use the service to reduce delays, avoid unexpected fees and accelerate entry into new regions.

Key Points

• Free expert advice — Sellers can call or submit queries online and receive personalised answers from trained export advisers at no charge.
• EU customs focus — The service tackles the new customs declarations, commodity‑code classification and rules‑of‑origin calculations that now apply to every shipment crossing the UK‑EU border.
• Country‑specific guidance — Advice is available for target markets such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United States and Japan, covering local safety standards, labeling and import restrictions.
• Documentation help — Advisers walk sellers through completing commercial invoices, export licences and other paperwork required for international freight.
• Complement to Amazon tools — The programme fills the compliance gap left by Amazon’s European Fulfilment Network and Pan‑European FBA, which handle logistics but not legal entry requirements.

How the Free Export Support Service Works

1. Submit a query — A UK‑based seller logs onto the government portal or dials the dedicated helpline, entering details such as product type, destination country and planned shipment volume. Example: a tea merchant planning to send 500 kg of loose‑leaf tea to a fulfillment centre in Frankfurt.
2. Receive a tailored response — Within one to two business days, an export adviser replies with a checklist that includes the correct commodity code, applicable tariff rate, any required certificates of origin and steps to calculate duties. Example: the adviser confirms that the tea falls under commodity code 0902 and explains the 2 % duty applicable under the UK‑EU trade agreement.