TL;DR
- Amazon no longer allows inventory transfers between the UK and EU; sellers must store products separately in each region.
- Pan-EU FBA no longer includes the UK, requiring UK sellers to manage separate fulfillment strategies for EU markets.
- Post-Brexit VAT rules mean sellers must register for VAT in each EU country where they store or sell goods.
- Shipping between the UK and EU now includes customs checks, delays, and higher costs, affecting delivery speed and profitability.
- Amazon programs like EFN, MCI, Global Selling, and VAT Services can help sellers manage cross-border complexities.
- To succeed post-Brexit, sellers need to plan inventory smartly, stay VAT-compliant, and consider working with Amazon professionals or 3PLs.
Selling across Europe was once seamless for Amazon UK sellers—until Brexit flipped the script. What used to be a single fulfillment network and easy EU access has now become a maze of customs, VAT, and shipping complexities.
If you’re a seller trying to keep up with the post-Brexit landscape, you’re not the only one navigating these changes. Many businesses are struggling to adjust to the new rules, from EORI numbers and cross-border delays to separate FBA setups for the UK and EU. The positive outlook is that selling successfully on Amazon UK and beyond remains entirely achievable—you simply need to adapt to the changes.
This blog breaks down what’s changed after Brexit, what it means for your Amazon operations, and how to navigate it all without losing momentum. You’ll learn about new VAT requirements, fulfillment shifts, added costs, and the Amazon programs that can help. We’ll also share actionable tips to help you stay compliant and competitive in 2025 and beyond.
What changed for Amazon UK sellers after Brexit?
#1 No more inventory transfers after Brexit
Brexit brought major shifts to how Amazon UK sellers operate—especially when selling across borders. One of the most significant changes is the end of seamless inventory transfers between the UK and the EU.
After Brexit, inventory transfers between the UK and the EU are no longer allowed. This means Amazon will no longer fulfill FBA orders across the UK-EU border—neither from the EU to the UK nor from the UK to the EU. This change also applies to the European Fulfilment Network (EFN), which previously allowed cross-border order fulfillment between these regions.
In practical terms, if you’re a UK-based seller, your inventory stored in UK FBA warehouses can no longer be used to fulfill orders placed on Amazon’s EU marketplaces like Germany, France, Italy, or Spain. You must now send stock separately to EU warehouses to keep selling in those countries. Managing split inventory for Amazon UK and EU has become essential for smooth cross-border operations.
However, it’s important to note that Brexit only affects UK-EU logistics. The Pan-European FBA within the EU remains unchanged. Amazon continues to transfer inventory and fulfill orders between EU countries through its European logistics network.
So if you’re selling on EU platforms outside the UK, Amazon FBA and EFN will still work across Germany, France, Italy, and Spain as before. This change has made inventory management more complex and costly for sellers who operate in both regions, requiring a more strategic approach to stock distribution and fulfillment planning.
#2 Need an EORI number to sell across UK and EU
If you’re an Amazon seller shipping products between the UK and EU, having an EORI number isn’t just helpful—it’s a must. After Brexit, the rules changed, and now every business moving goods across UK borders must have an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number.
Think of the EORI as your business’s ID for customs. Without it, your shipments can get delayed, rejected, or even fined. Whether you’re importing products into the UK to sell on Amazon or sending inventory to Amazon FBA warehouses in the EU, the EORI is what customs uses to track your business activity.
You’ll typically need two types of EORI numbers:
- A UK EORI number (starts with GB) to import goods into the UK.
- An EU EORI number to send goods into the EU—especially if you’re storing stock in Amazon’s European warehouses under Pan-European FBA.
Getting one is free and simple through HMRC in the UK. For EU EORI, you’ll usually apply in the first EU country your goods enter. If you’re using a freight forwarder or VAT service, they’ll often guide you through the process. Still, it’s your responsibility to make sure your EORI numbers are valid and active before you ship.
Thus, without an EORI number, your Amazon selling journey across the UK and EU will hit roadblocks. Getting your EORI number for Amazon UK in place is one of the first and most important steps toward smooth, cross-border operations in a post-Brexit world.
#3 End of Pan-EU fulfillment:
One of the biggest changes Amazon UK sellers faced after Brexit was the end of access to Amazon’s Pan-European FBA (Pan-EU) program—at least across the UK-EU border.
Before Brexit, Pan-EU allowed sellers to store their inventory in one Amazon fulfillment center, such as in the UK, and have Amazon distribute and fulfill orders across multiple EU countries like Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. It made cross-border selling simple and seamless.
But post-Brexit, this setup no longer applies between the UK and EU. UK-based sellers can no longer store inventory in the UK and expect Amazon to fulfill orders to EU countries. Likewise, stock held in EU fulfillment centers won’t be shipped to UK customers.
As a result, UK sellers had to rethink their logistics strategy. To continue selling in the EU, they now need to send separate inventory directly to European warehouses. This adds cost, planning, and complexity to their operations.
With the updated Amazon Pan-European FBA changes, you need to adjust their fulfillment strategy when selling on Amazon UK after Brexit—especially when navigating customs, EORI requirements, and cross-border inventory movement.
Sellers must now manage two separate fulfillment setups one for the UK and one for the EU. This change has led many businesses to either reduce their presence in one region or invest in third-party logistics providers to handle cross-border operations efficiently.
#4 New VAT registration rules
One of the biggest changes Amazon UK sellers faced after Brexit is how VAT registration works—especially for those selling into the EU.
Before Brexit, UK sellers could use their UK VAT number to sell across the EU. But now, the UK is no longer part of the EU VAT system. This means if you’re selling to customers in the EU or storing goods in any EU country (using Amazon FBA or your own logistics), you’ll likely need to register for VAT separately in each EU country where you have a presence.
For example, if you store inventory in Germany to fulfill Amazon orders, you must register for German VAT. If you also store in France, you need a French VAT number too.
This adds more admin work, more filing, and the need to stay updated on each country’s rules. Some sellers choose to register in just one EU country and use Amazon’s Pan-EU FBA to distribute inventory, but this still requires multiple VAT registrations.
On the UK side, the VAT registration threshold is now £90,000 in 12 months (as of 2025). If you’re above that, or if you’re a non-UK seller using UK FBA, you must register for UK VAT from day one.
#5 Limited access to European markets
One of the biggest impacts of Brexit on Amazon UK sellers is the reduced access to European markets. Before Brexit, UK-based sellers could easily sell to customers across the EU using a single FBA inventory pool. Products stored in UK warehouses could be shipped to EU buyers without extra paperwork, duties, or delays.
Now, if you want to sell on Amazon marketplaces in countries like Germany, France, Italy, or Spain, you must store inventory within the EU. Amazon will not fulfill orders from the UK to the EU or vice versa through FBA or the European Fulfilment Network (EFN). This means separate inventory, separate logistics, and often separate VAT registrations in each country you sell in.
For many sellers, this added complexity has led to tough choices: either scale down European sales, increase prices to cover extra costs, or find third-party logistics partners within the EU. Meanwhile, EU-based sellers can continue selling across EU marketplaces without disruption, giving them a competitive edge over UK-only sellers.
In short, Brexit has made selling into Europe from the UK more expensive and harder to manage. To stay competitive, sellers must adapt their strategy, invest in EU operations, or focus purely on the UK market.
#6 Higher shipping costs and more delivery delays
It has become one of the biggest pain points for Amazon UK sellers after Brexit. Before the UK left the EU, products could move freely across borders with minimal red tape. Now, every shipment between the UK and EU is treated as an international delivery, which means customs checks, declarations, and additional fees.
These changes have created longer processing times at the border, which leads to slower deliveries to customers in the EU. For Amazon sellers, this can result in poor customer experiences, negative reviews, and lost Buy Box opportunities. In some cases, sellers even need to pause EU sales because delivery timelines have become too unreliable.
Costs have gone up, too. You now need to factor in customs clearance fees, import duties, and VAT, along with the extra admin involved. Carriers also charge more due to the increased complexity of cross-border shipping.
Staying competitive now requires many sellers to work with third-party logistics providers or store inventory directly in EU-based FBA warehouses. Although this approach involves additional upfront costs, it ensures faster delivery and higher customer satisfaction while also helping navigate UK-EU customs for Amazon more efficiently.
Amazon programs that can help UK sellers after Brexit
Brexit changed the way UK sellers do business in Europe. With new rules, more paperwork, and split inventory requirements, selling across borders became more complicated. But Amazon offers a few helpful programs to make this process smoother.
- One useful option is the European Fulfilment Network (EFN). It lets you store products in the UK and still sell to customers in Europe—Amazon handles the shipping, but you’ll need to manage customs and VAT.
- If you want faster delivery to EU customers, Multi-Country Inventory (MCI) lets you send stock to Amazon warehouses in countries like Germany, France, or Italy. This gives you access to Prime shipping and local delivery, but requires VAT registration in those countries.
- Amazon Global Selling can also help you reach new markets outside of the EU—like the US, UAE, or Japan—by supporting listings, currency conversions, and international shipping. To simplify tax rules, VAT Services on Amazon offers help with VAT registration and filing across the UK and EU.
Together, these programs help UK sellers manage post-Brexit changes and keep growing their Amazon business across borders.
Challenges Amazon UK sellers face post-Brexit
Brexit has created several new hurdles for Amazon UK sellers, especially those selling to EU customers.
Here’s a breakdown of the key challenges and smart ways to manage them:
- No cross-border FBA fulfillment
Challenge: You can no longer use UK inventory to fulfill EU orders (and vice versa).
Solution: Send inventory separately to EU FBA warehouses or partner with a reliable 3PL within the EU. - Customs complexity
Challenge: Shipping across the UK-EU border now requires customs declarations, EORI numbers, and added paperwork.
Solution: Register for both UK and EU EORI numbers and consider hiring a customs broker to avoid delays.
- Multiple VAT obligations
Challenge: Sellers must register for VAT in each EU country where they store goods.
Solution: Use Amazon VAT Services or tools like Avalara to manage filings across regions. - Higher shipping costs and slower delivery
Challenge: Additional fees and customs checks lead to more expensive, slower cross-border deliveries.
Solution: Store stock closer to EU customers or use Pan-EU FBA within the EU to maintain fast delivery. - Operational complexity
Challenge: Managing two separate markets now requires more coordination.
Solution: Use automation tools and expert consultants to stay compliant and scale efficiently.
Final tips for selling on Amazon UK post-Brexit
- Plan for split inventory between the UK and the EU
- Apply for UK and EU EORI numbers
- Register for VAT in the required countries
- Use Amazon Global Selling and VAT Services on Amazon
- Take advantage of Amazon’s Partnered Carrier Program
- Work with customs brokers and VAT consultants
- Factor in shipping, VAT, and import fees in pricing
- Monitor regulatory updates regularly
- Use automation tools to manage listings and compliance
- Consider EU-based 3PLs for faster delivery and lower cost
Final thoughts
Selling on Amazon UK after Brexit is still full of opportunity—but it requires a smarter, more strategic approach. With cross-border FBA restrictions, VAT complexities, and increased shipping costs, UK sellers must adapt to stay competitive in the EU and beyond. Programs like EFN, MCI, and Amazon Global Selling can help ease the transition, but success now depends on planning, compliance, and operational efficiency.
If managing customs, VAT, or logistics feels overwhelming, consider working with Amazon professionals. We can guide you through the new rules, help with registration and filings, and ensure your business runs smoothly on both sides of the border. With the right support, you can turn post-Brexit challenges into a profitable growth strategy.
