Ask the Collective

Should we apply for excise duty stamps in the country of origin or work with a UK importer to handle stamping when importing spirits?

The approach depends on your HMRC licence status and future import plans. Members recommend: - **Using a UK importer (e.g. Enotira) for the first shipment** — Pay them a fee to handle stamping on arrival. This is the practical route if you don't yet have HMRC authorisation for stamps. Someone has to break down and stamp the goods anyway, and an established importer can easily obtain the stamps and manage the process. - **Bottling and stamping in the country of origin for future shipments** — Once you have consistent, regular movement to the UK, organise production and stamping at source (e.g. in Sri Lanka) to avoid double-handling and future complexity. This only works if you have the licence status and volume to make it worthwhile. - **Understand HMRC authorisation is the blocker** — Stamps are free, but HMRC must authorise you to hold them. You cannot get stamps unless you have the right licence. Check your status first. **Caveats:** If your product range is going into multiple countries (Italy, Denmark, etc.) and you can't add country-specific artwork, handling stamping at destination (UK) is cleaner than trying to manage it in the origin country. For advice tailored to your specific licence status and shipment volume, members suggest reaching out directly to discuss your situation.