‘Books Across Borders’: free best practice resources - Book Industry Communication Skip to content 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 Author The BIC Team From the team at Book Industry Communication (BIC) - the UK book industry’s supply chain organisation. View all posts Similar Posts A relative newcomer in comparison to the long evolution of the physical supply chain, effective standards and best practices are particularly crucial in this area to ensure industry organisations have the tools required to create and maintain a consistent and adaptable digital supply chain. Most of you will have seen the announcement that Karina Luke will be taking over as Executive Director of BIC in April and will be joining us on 16 February. Karina has been a long-standing friend and supporter of BIC and we are delighted that she is coming on board. She brings with her from… I’m afraid the blog has been in abeyance too long. The main event – and preoccupation – of the past month or so has been the moving of the BIC office. We are now installed in the CILIP building on the corner of Store Street and Ridgmount Street in the heart of Bloomsbury, and very… BIC is pleased to announce the release of key deliverables from the Data Recipient Best Practice project. Although aimed primarily at business-to-business recipients of metadata, this guidance is essential reading for anyone involved in the creation, management, or transmission of product information within the book supply chain. Highlights include a Supply Chain Map that clearly… The Library sector forms an integral part of the book industry. BIC’s work in this area supports this vital resource, enabling access to books freely and equally to readers across the country. As the global publishing industry focuses on London this spring, there will be a real emphasis on not only ‘defining the future of creative content’, but the role of sustainability within that. Categories Accreditation Results Event Reports Opinion Project Updates Upcoming Events and Training What's New Recent Posts New Best Practice Guidance for Metadata Recipients Now Available ‘Books Across Borders’: free best practice resources The BIC Accessibility Hub is live! Latest BIC Bite Clarifies When to Assign New ISBNs ‘BIC In Practice’: Physical Supply Chain Manage Cookie Consent To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. 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