Brexit hit to UK Beauty industry should ‘make Government blush’

Post-Brexit red-tape has led to a substantial fall in the export of beauty products from the UK to the European Union.

A report by Oxford Economics, commissioned by the British Beauty Council, found that exports from the UK to the European Union have fallen by more than £850 million since the Brexit vote, as a result of customs delays and increased costs.

According to the report, UK exports of personal care products were rising to both the European single market and the rest of the world between 2010 and 2016, at an average annual rate of 3.1% and 5.3% respectively. Since then, exports to the EU have gradually declined.

Tamara Cincik, Founder-CEO of Fashion Roundtable and member of the cross-party UK Trade and Business Commission said,

“These findings should make the government blush. Increased red-tape from their shambolic Brexit deal means fewer opportunities and lost income for UK businesses.

“The government must not gloss over this issue. The message from the UK Beauty industry is clear: reducing checks through beneficial regulatory alignment with our largest market is the foundation to increasing much-needed trade.”