Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What is the best approach and cost for renewing trademark registrations in the UK and Europe?
Trademark renewal is straightforward DIY in the UK but requires more careful navigation for EU protection post-Brexit. Members report significant cost variation depending on whether you handle it yourself or use legal support. **UK trademark renewal:** - **DIY via the official UK Intellectual Property Office website** — several members completed this themselves and found it manageable with internet research; no lawyer needed - **Lawyer quotes** — expect £900 + VAT for UK-only renewal through traditional IP lawyers (though this appears on the higher end) **EU trademark renewal (post-Brexit):** - **DIY via Madrid Protocol** — members recommend registering the original trademark in the UK first, then applying for the Madrid Protocol to cover multiple countries in one application; described as "easier" than handling each country separately - **Polish lawyer option** — one member recommended a lawyer in Poland who can handle all EU countries for under £500, significantly cheaper than UK law firm quotes - **Processing time** — expect approximately 6 weeks turnaround from placing the order **Strategic considerations:** - Members suggest protecting your brand across export markets proactively, even if you haven't actively exported yet, to prevent future brand conflicts (one member cited a costly dispute when a competitor launched a similar product) - The Madrid Protocol approach allows you to cover multiple EU countries "in one hit," reducing administrative complexity **Caveat:** The lawyer quotes in the excerpts (£1,800 + VAT for UK and Europe; £900 + VAT for UK only) appear to be at the premium end; the Polish lawyer route and DIY options suggest these are not competitive market rates.
What practical steps should UK spirits brands take with labelling and business registration when selling into EU markets after Brexit?
UK brands selling to the EU post-Brexit need to navigate labelling and business structure requirements carefully. Members' experience suggests the following approach works: - **EU warehouse registration** — Several members operate successfully via an EU-registered business entity (e.g. in the Netherlands), which significantly reduces rejection risk at borders. This appears to be the most reliable route. - **Label address switching** — Once you have an EU registered business, add that address to the back label rather than the UK business address. This simple change has prevented stock rejections for members who implemented it. - **Invoicing from EU entity** — Members report that simply adding the EU address to the label and continuing operations "as per" (without separate bank accounts or formal accounts) has worked; however, confirmation on whether formal invoicing from the EU company is legally required would be worth verifying with your accountant. - **Stock rejection risk** — At least one established brand (Chase) had stock turned away from Spain and Italy immediately post-Brexit, suggesting early implementation of the EU entity structure is advisable to avoid delays. **Caveat:** The discussion suggests practical workarounds rather than definitive legal guidance. Members recommend speaking to your accountant about formal invoicing and accounting requirements for an EU-registered entity, as the excerpts don't fully clarify those obligations.
What are the UK commodity codes and customs procedure codes needed for importing spirits from the EU post-Brexit?
Post-Brexit spirit imports from the EU require both a commodity code and a customs procedure code (CPC). Members found the process significantly more complex than pre-Brexit. **Resources and codes:** - **UK Trade Tariff** (gov.uk/trade-tariff) — the official government tool for looking up commodity codes for imports; includes options for different container sizes (spirits over 2L have specific codes) - **Customs Procedure Code 0700000** — mentioned as the likely CPC for spirit imports, though members noted this is the area where complexity lies ("box 37" references suggest detailed customs declaration requirements) **Caveats:** Members found the CPC lookup particularly challenging and non-intuitive. The Trade Tariff tool is the authoritative source, but members recommend consulting it carefully and potentially seeking specialist customs advice if the procedural code isn't immediately clear. One member flagged that even experienced importers found box 37 (part of the customs declaration form) confusing.