Businesses dealing in a vast array of consumer goods may have to appoint a representative inside the European Union after Brexit in order to keep trading with the single market. The Federation of Small Businesses warned that companies selling to customers in the EU could face an additional “massive barrier to trade” when Britain leaves, if proposals to force businesses from third countries to appoint authorised representatives are implemented. The EU is planning to require businesses from countries outside the bloc that trade in certain goods to appoint an “authorised economic operator” within the single market. The proposal, meant to prevent unsafe products entering the EU, would force manufacturers to designate a person to hold compliance documentation inside the bloc and to be accountable for…

Source: The Times February 19, 2019 00:16 UTC