Border Controls – ROI & NI goods movements to Great Britain

Border arrangements which currently apply to goods moving from the island of Ireland (ROI and NI) to GB extended

The UK Government (UKG) has decided to extend the border arrangements which currently apply to goods moving from the island of Ireland (ROI and NI) to GB while discussions on the Northern Ireland Protocol are ongoing.

That means Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods moving from the island of Ireland to GB will continue to do so, on the basis of the arrangements that apply currently until further notice, and will not, for now, be affected by the changes being introduced on 1 January 2022 for all other goods inbound to GB.

For animal product controls

The new pre-notification requirements being introduced on EU imports to GB from 1 January 2022 for Products of Animal Origin (POAO) and Animal by-Products (ABPs) will not apply to goods imported from ROI to GB

Existing requirements (introduced in January 2021) for Live Animals, POAO under safeguard measures, germinal products and high risk Animal By-Products remain unchanged, i.e. imports of these goods from ROI to GB and indirect movements from NI moved via ROI to GB, will continue to require pre-notification, to be accompanied by appropriate documentation and certification, and will continue be subject to risk-based import checks

Direct movements from NI to GB of NI Qualifying animal products, will continue to have unfettered access to GB.

For plant and plant product controls

The new pre-notification requirements being introduced on EU imports to GB from 1 January 2022 will not apply to goods imported from ROI to GB. Existing requirements for “high-priority” plants remain unchanged, i.e. imports of these goods from ROI to GB and indirect movements from NI moved via ROI to GB, will continue to require pre-notification, to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, and will be subject to risk-based import checks.

Direct movements from NI to GB of NI Qualifying plants and plant products, will continue to have unfettered access to GB.

High Risk Food not of Animal Origin

Businesses moving high risk foods not of animal origin (HRFNAO) directly from the island of Ireland into GB, will also be exempt from the requirement to pre-notify. This is a temporary arrangement and will be reviewed early next year.

First published 17 December 2021