Since 1 January 2021 Great Britain and the European Union have been separate customs territories. For research peptide buyers that means the country a brand ships from matters as much as the price. This guide explains the four routes and what to expect on each.
UK brand to a UK address
A domestic parcel. No customs declaration and no import VAT; delivery is usually by Royal Mail or a UK courier within a few working days. This is the simplest route for buyers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
EU brand to an EU address
A parcel that stays inside the EU customs union, for example from the Netherlands to Germany or from Romania to France, has no customs step. Delivery times depend on the carrier and the distance, typically a few working days to a week.
UK brand to an EU address
The parcel leaves the UK and is imported into the EU. Import VAT at the destination country’s rate is due on arrival unless the seller has collected it at checkout through the EU’s IOSS scheme for parcels up to €150. Carriers often add a handling fee for collecting it, and parcels can be held at customs for checks. Some UK brands do not ship to the EU at all; their pages say so.
EU brand to a UK address
The parcel is imported into the UK. For goods up to £135 the seller may charge UK VAT at checkout; otherwise the carrier collects import VAT and a fee before delivery. Allow extra days for customs. Some EU brands do not deliver to the UK.
Swiss brands
Switzerland is outside both the EU customs union and the UK, so every UK and EU delivery from a Swiss brand is an import.
Rules on importing research materials
Customs is only part of the picture. Medicines regulators such as the MHRA in the UK, the IGJ in the Netherlands and BfArM in Germany decide whether a product counts as a medicine, and some peptides are the active ingredients of licensed medicines. Products on this marketplace are sold for laboratory research only. Check the rules that apply in your country before you order.
How to avoid customs charges
Buy on your side of the border. Every listing shows its ship-from country, the Shop by country page groups brands by it, and the price comparisons let you sort a compound’s listings and pick a brand that dispatches from your region.
