A sourcing agent in India for UK importers should help you with factory checks as usual, plus the UK-specific parts: origin proof for the new India-UK trade agreement, UK product and labelling rules, and the paperwork HMRC expects. Press reports say the agreement came into force on 15 July 2026.
Check the details on GOV.UK, because transition steps, product lists and timelines can change. We give no duty figures here, and your customs broker should confirm what applies to your goods.
What the trade agreement changes for you
In general terms, a trade agreement can reduce or remove UK import duty on goods that qualify as originating in India. The catch is that goods must meet the rules of origin and carry the proof the agreement requires, and the proof depends on the supplier keeping records. See how the India-UK agreement affects duty and India-UK FTA, GSP and RoDTEP.
- Ask the factory early whether it can issue the origin statement or certificate the agreement requires.
- Ask your agent to check the supplier's records, not just collect the paper.
- Do not price an order on a preferential rate until your broker has confirmed that your goods qualify.
Product rules for the UK market
Great Britain has its own conformity marking for many product types, and food, textiles and chemicals each have UK-specific labelling and registration rules. See importing textiles from India to the UK, importing spices to the UK and Canada and importing imitation jewellery to the UK.
Northern Ireland follows different rules for some goods, so say so if you deliver there. Confirm any regulated product with the relevant UK regulator or your broker.
Retailer requirements
UK retailers often require supplier audits and certificates, such as those described in BRCGS certification, which UK retailers ask for and BSCI, SMETA and WRAP audits. Ask your agent to confirm that the factory holds a current certificate and to check it on the certifier's records.
Questions for the agent
- Have you handled orders shipped to the UK, and which products?
- How do you document origin and keep records for the trade agreement?
- Do you arrange or recommend a UK customs agent, and who is responsible for the declaration?
- Who pays you, and will it be in writing?
- What is your process for a failed inspection?
A worked example
A UK retailer wants home textiles. The agent checks the mill's certificates, tests fibre content and colour fastness, confirms the labels meet UK rules, and asks the mill whether it can issue the origin proof the trade agreement needs. The retailer's broker then decides, from the documents, whether to claim a reduced rate.
If the mill cannot supply the proof, the retailer knows before it ships and can price the order at the standard rate. A surprise bill at Felixstowe is avoided because the question was asked at the start.
Mistakes UK importers make
The commonest mistake is assuming the new agreement applies automatically to everything. It does not; goods must qualify, and the paperwork has to be right. Another is forgetting Northern Ireland differences. A third is trusting a factory's old EU-style declaration for UK law. Ask your broker which documents the UK actually requires today.
Timing and contract points
Because the agreement is new, expect some supplier confusion about the origin proof in the first months. Build extra time into the first order and agree in the contract who bears the cost if the preferential rate is refused. What a sourcing agent contract should include covers the other terms. Keep copies of every origin record for as long as your broker advises.
What to send an agent first
Send your product specification, the UK commodity code if your broker has given one, your target quantity and your retailer's requirements. The more precise the brief, the fewer wasted factory visits.
How we work
We work across India and arrange audits and inspections where the supplier is. We find and audit manufacturers, shortlist five to ten real ones, check samples and documents, have lots tested, and supervise production and loading. You pay the factory directly, and we take nothing from factories. Our fee is one written amount agreed in advance. Your UK customs agent still decides the declaration. To discuss an order, book a free sourcing review.