SPE13470 - Commercial policy measures: general
This manual will be archived on 15 December 2025. For up-to-date guidance on special procedures, please refer to Pay less or no duty on goods you store, repair, process or temporarily use (GOV.UK) and Customs Technical Handbooks (GOV.UK). If you have feedback about this manual being archived, email hmrcmanualsteam@hmrc.gov.uk.
Note: This manual is under review and is likely to be withdrawn. If there is anything within this manual you use regularly, please email hmrcmanualsteam@hmrc.gov.uk to let us know. Please check the other guidance available on GOV.UK from HMRC.
'Commercial policy measures' means non–tariff measures established as part of the common commercial policy, in the form of UK provisions governing international trade in goods. These include goods subject to:
- BIS licensing controls: For imports of firearms (policy, control procedures, licencing and sanctions), refer to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-controls
- UKAP import or export licences or certificates:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/licences-for-the-importexport-of-agricultural-products
- cultural licences, (see SPE13475)
- licences for controlled substances (see SPE13480) and
- drug precursor chemicals: see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/precursor-chemical-licensing
Except for UKAP goods subject to licensing requirements the above types of goods can be entered to IP.
For goods entered to IP, a licence will not be required unless the goods are:
- discharged to free circulation (see SPE13240)
- firearms, ammunition, explosives and nuclear materials
- controlled ozone depleting substances.
Note - Northern Ireland (NI) Customs Authorisations will continue to fall within the provisions of the Union Customs Code (UCC), as retained by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and CEMA 1979