Boost Business New

Categories

All

What is ETA?

Key Challenges

Lorem Ipsum

The new UK ETA System

Starting in 2025, the UK is introducing the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, of significant importance for those travelling internationally for business. This new digital travel permit applies to visitors from visa-free countries, including European Union citizens, and impacts short-term business visits. From April 2, 2025, EU nationals will need an ETA. If your business involves frequent trips to the UK, understanding this new system is important for smooth travels.
‍

Here’s a breakdown of what this means for your business, and how you can stay ahead of the changes.

What is the ETA, and why does this matter?

The ETA is not a visa but a digital travel permission for short stays. It’s simple to apply for, costs £10, and remains valid for two years, allowing multiple entries for stays of up to six months per visit. The 180-day (6-month) rule refers to the maximum duration of stay per visit, not per year. For businesses, this is more than a formality. It introduces an additional administrative step for your international sales team, export managers, or directors traveling to the UK for meetings, events, or market exploration. While it’s straightforward, it’s an extra step that needs to be done in advance or avoid delays.

Key challenges and recommendations for Businesses

Prepare your trips in advance and organise your personal ETA in March 2025. ETA decisions typically take three working days but can take longer if additional checks are needed. Late applications could delay business trips. Even if employees only have a layover in the UK, they will still need an ETA, adding preparation for connecting flights. In other words if you are traveling to the US and have a stopover in London, you need to organise your ETA. Ensure employees are aware of the process and requirements, including the use of the UK ETA app for faster results.

Boost Business: your local commercial professional

With the ETA system adding new layers to international travel, having a local presence in the UK is more important than ever. Boost Business provides local commercial professionals who live in the UK, understand the UK market, speak the language, and can build relationships with key players. Our boosters represent your business, drive sales, and create local partnerships — minimising your need to travel.

Ready to explore your options?

Ready to explore your options? Let’s discuss how we can bring apply these trends into your business.

Regulation Food & Drink sector UK

Expanding into the UK market can open up a lot of opportunities for your food & drink business. However, the UK has its own set of rules and standards, many of which are different from what you may be used to in the EU. It’s important to understand the key regulations and tailor your approach accordingly to maximise success

1. Labeling and packaging: More important than expected

UK Requirements

The UK requires clear nutritional labels, bold allergen information, and accurate ingredient lists. Since Brexit, labels must also specify "Made in the UK" or "Packed in the UK" where applicable.

What’s different from the EU

The allergen requirements are similar, but there’s more emphasis on clarity for consumers in the UK. Certain claims, like “healthy” or “low sugar,” may also face stricter checks.

2. Ingredients and additives: Check for differences

UK Standards

The UK follows its own rules for food additives and E-numbers (food additive codes). While similar to the EU, some additives require additional checks. GMOs are also strictly regulated, and transparency in labeling is key.

What’s different from the EU

The UK now manages these rules independently, which can lead to slight differences in what’s approved. Have your ingredients list reviewed by someone who understands UK standards to avoid any surprises during customs checks.

3. The UK sugar tax, a requirement

What you need to know

The UK has a Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL, often called the sugar tax), which applies to drinks containing over 5 grams of sugar per 100ml. This has encouraged many brands to reformulate their products to avoid the tax. Sugar Tax requires products that have between 5-8 grams of sugar per 100ml to pay more tax and even more so if there is above 8 grams.

What’s different from the EU

Most EU countries don’t have a formal sugar tax, which makes this an important consideration for beverage companies entering or planning to enter the UK market. Check if your product is still competitive in the UK when including the sugar tax.

4. Import: Check the Brexit rules and changes

Brexit has introduced more detailed import checks, particularly for animal products and plants. This is because the products have a higher risk profile, they are often still alive or can carry bacteria into the country. The UK now uses the UKCA mark instead of the EU’s CE mark for compliance. Work with a logistics partner or customs expert to make sure your goods clear UK borders smoothly and without delays.

How Boost Business can help

Adapting to a new market can take time and effort, but that’s where Boost Business comes in.

We offer:

Local sales professionals who know the UK market and can represent your brand effectively.
Strategic support for areas like labeling, market strategy, and distribution.
Logistics solutions to help you overcome import challenges and get your products where they need to be.

Conclusion

The UK food and drink market offers great potential, with 70 million people who like to eat and drink and live on an island (Britain), they need to import international products. But the regulations are different from what many businesses are used to. By planning ahead, checking your compliance and getting the right local support, you can set your business up for success. It's also crucial to stay up to date with UK requirements, as Brexit has made them subject to frequent changes.

Heading 2

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.