All Commodity Advice
Contact us
For any general queries on Importing and Exporting goods please contact the External Trade Helpline on 0191 226 5050. During busy periods you may need to leave a message but the Licenisng teams will get back to you as soon as possible.
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the trader
The EC uses the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to make sure that agricultural supplies are:
- safeguarded;
- managed the same way throughout the Community;
- reasonably priced;
- regularly available.
and that EC producers receive fair prices for their goods.
To help do this, the EC operates a system of adjustments to the price of goods traded between the EC and the world market.
These adjustments are based on refunds and levies on exports and imports.
Refunds and Levies
Refunds and levies are used for different purposes as follows:
- Export refunds which reduce the price of EC goods to world market level. The refund is a subsidy paid to traders so they can export their goods at a competitive price;
- Import refunds which can be used to encourage the import of goods into the EC;
- Import levies which increase the price of imported goods to EC market level;
- Export levies which can be used if the EC price falls below world market level. They ensure that a regular supply of goods remains within the EC.
Refunds are based on the rate:
- fixed on the WTO (GATT) licence taken out to cover the export; or
- fixed on an advance fixing certificate; or
- which applied on the day the goods were accepted into Customs control; or
- on the last day of the month if the simplified scheduling procedure is used.
Exports to and imports from non-EU countries
If you export agricultural products from or import them into the EU, you must follow certain regulations.
These regulations change frequently. Please ask your regular contact for latest information or telephone the External Trade Helpline on 0191 226 5050 for advice.
Licences
You need a licence if you are importing or exporting certain CAP commodities from or to a country not in the EU. Licences help us to monitor and control these markets. If you are unsure whether your commodity requires a licence please contact the External Trade Helpline on 0191 226 5050 or email the relevant commodity section direct.
When you apply for a licence, you may have to provide security - usually a bank guarantee. The amount varies from one commodity to another. You will get the security back as soon as you provide proof that obligations have been met.
Guarantees and Securities
For information on Guarantees and Securities please click here.
Export Refunds
You may be entitled to a refund when the market price is lower in the country you are exporting to than in the EU.
Refunds may vary from one country to another and from one commodity to another. To qualify for a refund, you must meet certain conditions. In some cases we pay refunds before the commodity is exported, or before it reaches its destination.
We also pay refunds for exports to special destinations within the EU, and for commodities used on ships, oil rigs and aircraft.
Import Duties
Duties may be charged on imports from non-EU countries. The amount depends on the commodity and is collected by HM Customs and Excise, who can provide information on levels of duty.
Exchange Rates
EU support prices are fixed in euros. They are converted into national currency using the daily reference exchange rate supplied by the European Central Bank.
Trader Newcastle
Trader Newcastle deals with all External Trade and Internal Market trader based schemes at Newcastle and gives policy advice to Agency staff and outside bodies. We represent the UK at the monthly meeting of the Single Common Market Organisation (Horizontal Questions) group in Brussels, where External Trade CAP scheme policy is discussed. We are responsible for those External Trade Commission regulations which cover all commodities. We also:
- issue printed guidance to operational sections;
- issue electronic guidance to traders;
- co-ordinate the update and issue of External Trade/Internal Market scheme leaflets;
- review the implementation of Commission Regulations;
- liaise with HM Revenue and Customs on CAP related issues;
- coordinate audit activity for CAP schemes;
- produce statistics for the Commission;
- answer general queries;
- update parts of the website which relate to External Trade/Internal Market schemes; and
- monitor the performance of External Trade/Internal Market schemes in Newcastle against published targets.
For further information, please click on the links to your left.
There is information available on Defra's web site about the animal and public health import and export requirements for all animal products. Not meeting the animal health requirements can result in your product being seized and re-exported or destroyed at your own expense.
Page published: 24 April 2013