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GOODS ACROSS BORDERS

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

European Union Single Market

VERIFIED · 2026-04-25IN-FORCEIN FORCE · 1993-01-01

Member countries (5)

Commodity coverage

Free movement of goods, services, capital, and people among the 27 EU member states plus EEA partners (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland (sectoral). The deepest economic integration in the world: harmonised conformity (CE marking), shared customs union with common external tariff (TARIC), uniform competition law, IOSS / OSS VAT collection scheme, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and a Court of Justice ensuring uniform interpretation. Harmonised standards under the New Approach (consumer products, machinery, medical devices, electromagnetic compatibility) eliminate testing duplication.

Rules of origin

Goods in free circulation in any EU member state move within the Union without customs formalities. Third-country-origin goods cleared into one member state circulate freely afterwards (free-circulation status, T2 documentation).

Certificate of origin

Intra-EU movement: no origin certificate. Import into EU: T1/T2 or EUR.1 for preferential origin under EU FTAs.

Notes

UK left the Single Market on 2020-12-31 when the transition period ended under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Official text & sources

See also

VERIFIED · 2026-04-25Report a correction
RULES5,339COUNTRIES85ITEMS111CARRIERS28GUIDES37UNIQUE SOURCES614LATEST VERIFICATION2026-05-13MethodologyChangelog