Food & Drink Customs Clearance Services
Global Customs provides specialist food and drink customs clearance services for importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors, and logistics providers. We understand the critical nature of perishable goods and regulatory compliance.
This page explains how our food and drink customs clearance service works, what documents are required, and why food businesses across the UK trust Global Customs for fast, compliant clearance.
Why Food & Drink Imports Are Different
Food and drink shipments often involve:
Perishable and temperature-controlled goods
Strict SPS and health requirements
Short shelf life products
Mixed consignments and multiple SKUs
DEFRA and border checks
Time-critical delivery schedules
High compliance and inspection risk
Delays in food clearance can result in spoilage, rejection, or financial loss.
Our Food & Drink Customs Clearance Services
End-to-end customs support for food and beverage businesses:
Food & Drink Import Declarations
Accurate CDS import declarations for food and beverage goods.
HS Code Classification
Correct classification for food products and beverages.
Multi-SKU & Mixed Loads
Support for complex food consignments with multiple product lines.
Duty & Import VAT Calculations
Correct duty and VAT treatment for food and drink goods.
SPS & DEFRA Compliance
Support with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.
Warehouse & Cold Storage Clearance
Customs clearance aligned with storage and temperature controls.
Urgent & Same-Day Clearance
Priority clearance for perishable or time-sensitive goods.
Support for Freight & Logistics Partners
White-label customs services for food logistics providers.
Who We Work With
Our food and drink services support:
From fresh produce to packaged goods, we support your entire supply chain.
What You Need for Food & Drink Customs Clearance
To clear food and drink shipments efficiently, we typically require:
Commercial Invoice
- Product descriptions
- HS codes (if known)
- Value
- Currency
- Incoterms
Packing List
- Weights, quantities, and packaging details.
Transport Document
- Bill of lading
- Airway bill
- CMR
EORI Number
- Required for all UK food importers and exporters.
Health & SPS Documents
- Health certificates, catch certificates, or phytosanitary docs.
Product Specifications
- Ingredients, shelf life, and temperature requirements.
We guide you through every requirement to prevent delays or rejection.
How Global Customs Supports Food & Drink Businesses
Food & Drink Expertise
Deep understanding of food import and export regulations.
Fast Turnaround
We prioritise perishable and time-sensitive shipments.
Compliance-First Approach
Aligned with HMRC, DEFRA, and SPS requirements.
Transparent Pricing
Clear costs with no hidden fees.
Nationwide Coverage
Clearance across all UK ports, airports, and border facilities.
24/7 Support
Support for urgent and temperature-critical goods.
Common Food & Drink Customs Problems We Solve
SPS & Health Document Issues
We ensure correct certification and references.
Perishable Goods Delays
We prioritise clearance to avoid spoilage.
Incorrect HS Codes
We prevent misclassification and duty errors.
Supplier Documentation Errors
We correct invoices and missing information.
Mixed Food Consignments
We manage complex, multi-product shipments.
Post-Clearance Amendments
We handle corrections and HMRC follow-ups.
Industries We Support
Our food and drink customs services support:
Food manufacturing
Drink distribution
Fresh produce
Meat & seafood
Dairy products
Alcohol & beverages
Retail & hospitality
E-commerce food sales
From chilled imports to shelf-stable goods, we keep your products moving.
Don’t take our word for it. See what our clients say.
At Global Customs Clearance Ltd our focus is to provide the best Customs duty clearance service in the business whilst completing all assignments with the highest level of quality.
Read More"Always a pleasure to work with the team at GCC. Quick, easy and reliable servie. "
Jason Parker
"Nothing is ever too much trouble for James and the team, they always so helpful. We can rely on them 100%, so quick and efficient! Great team, great service."
Erin Loughlin
"Having used many agents in the past, I cannot stress how much these guys went above and beyond to ensure that the process was as smooth and simple as possible."
Nick Bond
"Great people and a cost effective service provided. GCC are now my "go-to" for anything Customs related."
Kevin Gerbson
FAQs
Answers to common food and drink customs clearance questions.
Need reliable food & drink customs clearance?
Contact Global Customs today for expert food and beverage customs clearance and 24/7 support.