It is 10 years since voters in the UK chose to leave the EU, and our wallets have been feeling the effects ever since. From paying more to take the dog on holidays in France to higher grocery bills and the headache of filling in customs forms for parcels, Brexit has made many simple tasks more complicated and expensive. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.

Food prices

Trade barriers on food imports after Britain left the EU resulted in the cost of food soaring by 12%. Researchers from the London School of Economics estimate that between 2019 and 2023 the price rises cost the average family £400. The price increases have been felt most by low-income households as they spend a greater share of their income on food compared with wealthier homes.

Some of this impact could be mitigated by plans for a new food export agreement between the UK and the EU, which the British government claims will reduce food costs and increase the variety of goods on supermarket shelves. The deal will mean no more paperwork or physical checks on dairy, fish, cheese, eggs and fresh red meat for EU exporters to the UK and could come into force in the summer of 2027.

Pet travel

Before Brexit, taking a dog or cat to an EU country was relatively simple. A pet passport cost £60 and vaccinations and microchipping about £50. The passport was valid for life provided vaccinations were up to date.

Since 2021 the process has been more expensive. An EU pet passport issued to a UK resident is no longer valid. It has been replaced by the animal health certificate for dogs, cats and ferrets, which must be issued within 10 days of entry to the EU and is valid for six months. You need a new certificate for each trip. The British Veterinary Association says the new documents are more onerous and time-consuming for vets, costing an average of £230. Do not try to get a pet passport from a vet in the EU: in April 2025, the EU made it clear that British residents cannot take animals to the EU on an EU-issued pet passport.

Parcels and post

When the UK was part of the EU single market and customs union, goods could move without import taxes. After the transition period ended in 2020, sending parcels became more complicated and expensive. Now, sending a parcel from England, Scotland or Wales (but not Northern Ireland) to an EU country requires a customs declaration form detailing the contents, value and an eight-digit code for each item.

Taxes, duties and clearance fees may be due on goods and gifts. Gifts valued below €45 are exempt from VAT and duties; above that, they may be subject to VAT and fees. The recipient typically pays. For goods coming into England, Scotland and Wales, VAT and customs duty may be due. VAT on items worth £135 or less is collected at purchase; above £135, the delivery company pays. Gifts under £39 are exempt. Customs charges apply to goods over £135 and gifts over £39. For example, buying Chinese-made jeans from a French shop costing £200 after shipping would incur customs duty of £24 and VAT of £44.80, totalling £268.80, not including handling fees.

Roaming

From 2017, mobile networks in EU countries were banned from charging extra for using phones across borders. These rules ceased to apply when the UK formally left the EU in 2020, and soon after many mobile companies introduced fees. For example, an EE pay monthly customer who started a contract after 7 July 2021 pays £2.72 a day to use their allowances in a "Europe zone". For Vodafone users who signed up after August 2021, the charge is £2.75 a day. O2 does not charge for using up to 25GB in its Europe Zone, limited to 63 days over four months. The UK communications regulator Ofcom says mobile companies must send customers a message about roaming charges.