‘Books Across Borders’: free best practice resources
Navigating the complexities of international book trade requires a nuanced understanding of evolving legislation, geopolitical influences, and stretched supply chains.
To address these challenges, BIC launched the ‘Books Across Borders’ project, aimed at defining and promoting best practices for the import and export of physical books and related products to and from the UK and Ireland.
The project has produced a suite of resources tailored for professionals involved in publishing, printing, distribution, and retail. Key documents include:
- Supply Chain Maps: These provide high-level overviews of the international supply chain, focusing on metadata flow, product movement, and distinctions between business-to-business and direct-to-consumer workflows.
- Glossary: An extensive reference capturing terms and abbreviations, clarifying their meanings within the context of the book supply chain and international trade.
- Metadata Requirements: Detailing essential data elements that ensure smooth international trade, with supporting notes and links for both ONIX and non-ONIX users.
- Documentation: Guidance on essential paperwork, including sample documents, explanatory notes, and additional resources to demystify the necessary documentation for international transactions.
- Roles and Responsibilities: A visual representation using INCOTERMS to delineate key responsibilities in international trade, complemented by a general overview of roles within the supply chain.
- HS and Commodity Codes: An explanation of these codes, their structure, and significance in international trade, emphasising their role in determining duties, tariffs, and tax rates.
- VAT Overview: A brief insight into the complexities of Value Added Tax across different markets, underscoring the importance of seeking legal advice on local tax laws.
- Imports to the Island of Ireland: Highlighting common pitfalls and proactive steps for importing to Ireland, including links to additional resources.
Full details and all documents can be downloaded from the Books Across Borders page on the BIC website, as well as a whole host of other Best Practice projects, including Acquisitions and Divestments, BIC Realtime, Industry Returns Initiative (IRI), Out of Print and many more.
For further details on BIC’s strategic projects and to contribute to shaping a sustainable book industry, please contact info@bic.org.uk.
