The Trader Support Service (TSS) has informed that new arrangements for parcels and freight movements that were due to come into effect on the 30th September, did not happened as planned. However, whilst TSS will be providing further information in due course, businesses should be fully prepared by 31st March 2025.
New arrangements for B2B parcels: From 1st April 2025, all B2B parcels will require information to be submitted into the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). Your parcel carrier will need to submit this as part of their door-to-door service, so you need to be ready to provide this additional information to your parcel carrier, and in some cases, you may need to pay duty. Make sure to speak to your parcel carrier so they are aware of the new processes. The UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) will enable eligible goods moving from a business in GB to a business in NI that are fore sale to, or final use by, end consumers located in the UK yo move without a need for a full international customs declaration and having to pay duty.
New arrangements for B2C parcels: For goods sent to consumers in NI for personal use, there are no individual customs declarations, duty or presentation of goods to customs authorities. If you send foods to consumers, your carrier will collect additional data from you about the movement, such as the recipients' details and a description of the goods. Check as well with your carrier they are aware and understand the new processes and how they need you to present the information.
Make sure when sending goods to NI, you understand who is your 'customer' - a business or consumer, as this will dictate what process you must follow. If you are unsure, then you must find out, and this could be based on:
your customer holds a business account with you
your customer requires a VAT invoice
the characteristics of your customer’s particular transactions (for example, volume or type of goods) indicates they are a business
New Simplified Process for moving goods GB-NI: The Windsor Framework, agreed in early 2023, introduced a new set of arrangements to ease issues that arose from the Northern Ireland Protocol. New simplified processes will kick off in 2025, reducing the amount of information for goods ‘not at risk’ of entering the EU and moved directly from GB to NI, this reduced ‘dataset’ is known as Internal Market Movement Information (IMMI). Traders wishing to benefit from this need to meet the following criteria:
o Must have a valid UK Internal Market Scheme (UKMIS) authorisation
o Goods must meet the criteria to be moved under the UKMIS as ‘not at risk’ of entering the EU market.
o Goods must be moved by direct transport from GB to NI (including transit goods, so long as the transit starts in GB and ends in NI)
o The goods must be in free circulation or home use in GB prior to movement
o Goods must not be Category 1 goods (those liable to quotas, anti-dumping duties or trade safeguards)
o The IMMI can be used prior to the movement of the goods (pre-movement) or after the goods arrive (post-movement).
There will be four types of goods movements available under the simplified processes and supported by TSS:
o Pre-movement simplified process
o Pre-lodged standalone IMMI
o Simplified process within the TSS Simplified Procedure (post movement)
o Arrived standalone IMMI
Safety and Security Requirements on imports and exports: Whilst this is not specific and exclusive to the movement of goods under the Windsor Framework, it will impact traders moving goods via Northern Ireland which are at risk to end up in the EU. The EU has implemented a new Import Control System (ICS2), a new customs pre-arrival safety and security programme. ICS2 is a new IT system created to collect data about all goods entering the EU prior to arrival. The ICS2 came live on June 2024, and the deployment window by transport mode is as follows:
3rd June 2024 - Maritime and inland waterways carriers
4th December 2024: Maritime and inland waterways house level filers
1st April 2025: Road and rail carriers
Source: UK Gov, TSS, NICA
Further Guidance and Support
Further guidance about changes related to parcels, click here
Are you haulier, carrier or transport company? Are you aware of your responsibilities for providing information under the new ICS2? Click here for more information
Need to upskill your workforce about trading with NI? did you know we offer off-the-shelf and bespoke in-house training? Email us at international@gmchamber.co.uk to have a chat about your needs.
Got a question, need more tailored support? We also offer hourly and consultancy packages to meet your needs.
Check also our Trading via Northern Ireland Section for hand-picked guidance.
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