A new system for moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland has commenced, marking the commencement of a significant aspect of the Windsor Framework. Agreed to by the UK and EU in February, the framework is the revised post-Brexit agreement for Northern Ireland with the intention of easing trade between Northern Ireland and the UK. The Northern Ireland Protocol, the deal keeping Northern Ireland within the EU single market for goods, has been adjusted by the framework, which means goods arriving into Northern Ireland from the other parts of the UK are subject to checks and controls. The UK Internal Market Scheme has registered more than 1,600 new businesses, which have not previously been members of the UK Trader Scheme that can now move eligible goods free from worrying tariffs.
There is a system of “green and red lanes” at Northern Ireland ports, with a new trusted trader scheme in effect. The green lane/red lane system intends to decrease bureaucracy for goods that have Northern Ireland as their intended destination, which means that minimal paperwork and routine checks are required for goods coming from GB for sale to consumers in Northern Ireland using the green lane lane. Companies must be registered with the trusted trader scheme to use the green lane. The new system according to Northern Ireland Secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, will signify that “the vast majority” of GB to NI trade will be “treated as UK internal trade”. There were 23 lorries on board the Stena Superfast VIII ferry from Cairnryan in Scotland and the first to utilize the green and red lane system to arrive at Belfast Harbour on Sunday.
For retail food and drink, UK public health and safety standards are applying under the Windsor Framework, eliminating the need for UK food to have been created to EU standards. GB trusted traders who send food for sale in Northern Ireland will face decreased bureaucracy, but products themselves must feature “not for EU” labels. If the goods can potentially be sold in the Republic of Ireland, they will not be eligible for green lane treatment and shall have to use the red lane instead. The unique trusted trader scheme, which was already open to specific businesses under the Northern Ireland Protocol, is being extended to a wider range of businesses.
Although firms distributing goods throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland like food wholesalers will have to experience ongoing bureaucracy, firms dealing with goods solely to be sold in Northern Ireland gain from the unique framework. The initiative eliminates years of uncertainty surrounding Brexit, bringing assurance and clarity. Major retailers in the UK who were excluded from previous grace periods were saddled with tedious red tape in moving food into Northern Ireland, which they will be free from under the new system. Haulier, James Duke disagrees that significant issues shall arise, anticipating a lack of preparedness among some GB suppliers
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