Moving goods to or from Northern Ireland
All Irish Sea movements from GB to Northern Ireland will move under a pre-lodgement model. This will mean that all consignments must have completed a Safety & Security declaration alongside an Import declaration before it can be shipped from GB to NI.
The pre-lodgement model is when both the importer and exporter has completed the customs formalities along with the haulier completing any safety and security declarations and pre-lodgement processes prior to arriving at the port of departure.
The pre-lodgement will ensure that delays at terminals are minimised as loads will clear customs during the crossing. Some goods will still be subject to routine and random checks following discharge. These checks may be related to customs but will primarily be related to Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) controls that involves the movement of products of plant or animal origin.
Register for the Trader Support Service
The Trader Support Service (TSS) will provide free training and support for businesses for customs processes that will arise for goods moving between GB and NI. The Trader Support Service can provide support in registering for an EORI number, understanding Incoterms and in making declarations for goods moving from GB to NI. Even if you are not sure whether you will buy from/sell to GB in the next year, it is worth registering just in case.
Guidance available here.
Trader Journey Overview for GB-NI trade
The free-to-use digital service will help businesses and traders of all sizes to navigate the changes to the way goods move once the Northern Ireland Protocol comes into effect on 1 January 2021. An overview of the data requirements to keep goods moving between GB and NI and the role of GVMS in doing that can be found here.
Get an EORI number
From 1 January 2021 you’ll need an EORI number that starts with XI to:
- move goods between Northern Ireland and non-EU countries;
- make a declaration in Northern Ireland;
- get a customs decision in Northern Ireland .
To get an EORI number that starts with XI, you must already have an EORI number that starts with GB.
If you do not have one, apply as soon as possible, you can apply here.
If you already have an EORI number that starts with GB and HMRC thinks you need one that starts with XI, they’ll automatically send you one in mid-December 2020.
Find out the commodity code for goods you buy or sell
If you buy from/sell to GB, you will need to know the commodity codes for the goods you purchase and sell. For goods you purchase, you should speak to your supplier, they may be able to tell you the code. You can also check the code using the Trade tariff here.
You should check the tariffs applicable under the EU Common External Tariffs and UK Global Tariff (UKGT).
Assess your exposure to changes
Use Invest NI’s EU Exit Resilience Tool to assess where you will need to make changes. The tool is free and available to all businesses.
EU Exit Resilience Tool is designed to enable your business take a view on where your strengths lie, where you may be vulnerable following the UK’s exit from the EU and what action you may need to take.
You will be able to score your business readiness against the areas most likely to be impacted by EU Exit post the transition period and COVID-19 crisis. The tool will help you understand your business’ current and future needs, create contingency plans and take key actions to prepare for the future.
It will take you around 15 minutes to complete the tool and there are 28 questions split across seven areas that are critical to your business’ sustainability and growth.
The Invest NI EU Exit Resilience Tool can be found here.
Guidance for transport for GB to NI loads that ship via Dublin Port
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/starting-and-ending-transit-movements-in-northern-ireland-using-common-and-union-transit
How to end your movement
If you end your movement at an office of destination in Northern Ireland, you will need to email Border Force requesting to end a transit movement at BFPortteam@homeoffice.gov.uk.
You will need to include:
- Your name.
- Your Movement Reference Number (MRN).
- The method of transport.
- The name of the port you will be arriving into.
- The location where your goods will be held on arrival in Northern Ireland.
- The estimated arrival date and time of arrival of your goods at your stated location.
You will also need to attach:
- Your TAD (or C88 document).
- A confirmation of entry of the movement into another customs procedure, such as:
If you have any additional documents which you are using to support a simplified declaration procedure, then you should also attach copies of these documents.
You must email Border Force with this information at least 12 hours before your goods arrive at their destination.
If your goods do require physical checks
Most goods will not require a physical check, but if this is needed then Border Force will email you with instructions to take your goods to a specified location for inspection. Find a list of the community and common transit offices in Northern Ireland.
Once your goods have been checked and cleared, Border Force will end the transit movement and release your guarantee.
If your goods do not require physical checks
If Border Force does not contact you with instructions to take your goods for inspection then you must take your goods to the location where your goods will be held on arrival. You may unload your goods.
You must then email Border Force to confirm that your goods have arrived at their destination. Border Force will end the transit movement on NCTS and release your guarantee.
TSS guidance
https://www.nicustomstradeacademy.co.uk/resources/how-to-guides/options-for-moving-goods-from-gb-to-ni-via-ireland/
TSS Seminar 4: What’s new and what’s been updated (4 March 2021)
See slide deck
Essentials for Importing Products of Animal Origin into IE from GB
See slide deck
HMRC NI Haulier Readiness GVMS webinar
GB-NI Webinar
Safety & Security
Register to make an ENS in Northern Ireland: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-to-make-an-entry-summary-declaration-in-northern-ireland
HMRC guidance presentation on Haulier Readiness for the Northern Ireland Protocol:
Guidance on what hauliers and traders must to prepare and ensure good continue to move efficiently can be found Here
This includes details on:
- Entry Summary Declaration
- Goods declarations
- Ports and Supply Chains
- Movement of goods from GB to NI Pre-lodgement model
- Movement of goods from NI – GB
- Movement of goods from NI – GB Pre-lodgement model
- Movement of goods from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland/EU
- Grants
Business requirements for Safety & Security – GB and NI
Under the agreed terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Safety and Security requirements will be required for goods entering NI from GB. These will be required for a consignment before it is permitted to depart from a GB port to NI.
To find out more about this requirement and advice on how they are administered please click Here
Keeping Northern Ireland and Great Britain Trading
This document identifies the key priorities to keep Northern Ireland and Great Britain’s supply chains and trade moving as efficiently as possible. It includes key statistics on trade and freight for Northern Ireland with Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. It also includes our key asks from government in 2020 to ensure continuity of trade. The paper can be found Here
Moving goods to Republic of Ireland from Great Britain
For details on procedures for shipping goods via RoRo ex GB to the Republic of Ireland then click Here
Trading NI-GB via Dublin after 1 January 2021
A number of new steps must be completed in order to move goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain via Dublin from 1 January 2021.
Traders can choose if they will manage the new steps in-house or via a customs agent. In practice, most are likely to appoint a customs agent.
All actors in the chain (e.g. traders, logistics companies, customs agents, hauliers etc.) should understand and agree in advance who is responsible for each of the steps.
Goods from Northern Ireland moving to GB via Dublin can now use either a customs transit procedure or export procedure – both of which include safety and security information) in order to board a ferry in Dublin Port.
Operators will need to create a Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) on the Irish Customs RoRo Service before proceeding to the Port.
If these steps are not completed, the consignment should not proceed to the port as it will not be allowed board the ferry.
Operators must decide which process works best for them but, in every case, they can assist in minimising delays by ensuring accurate and complete Customs declarations are submitted in advance of moving goods. Video guides to import, export, transit and the Customs RoRo service are available on the Revenue website.
The UK Government provides information on requirements for entry into the UK after 1 January 2021.
Trading GB-NI via Irish Ports after 1 January 2021
It will continue to be possible for goods with a destination of Northern Ireland to enter via Dublin Port from GB from 1 January. However, a number of new steps will have to be completed.
Traders can choose if they will manage the new steps in-house or via a customs agent. In practice, most are likely to appoint a customs agent.
All actors in the chain (e.g. traders, logistics companies, customs agents, hauliers etc.) should understand and agree in advance who is responsible for each of the steps.
Goods entering Dublin from Great Britain bound for Northern Ireland
can either (i) move under a customs transit procedure, or (ii) under an import procedure and be customs cleared in Dublin. Both procedures require the provision of safety and security information and those checks must also be conducted at the point of arrival (i.e. Dublin).
In both cases, if SPS goods are included in the load, import SPS controls must be conducted at the point of arrival (i.e. Dublin). The operator responsible for the consignment should pre-notify the Border Control Post 24 hours in advance of the consignment arriving, by generating a CHED on Traces NT and submitting the necessary documents via the DAFM import portal (guidance here).
Operators will need to create a Pre-Boarding Notification (PBN) on the Irish Customs RoRo Service before proceeding to the Port.
If these steps are not completed, the consignment should not proceed to the port as it will not be allowed board the ferry.
Operators must decide which process works best for them but, in every case, they can assist in minimising delays by ensuring accurate and complete Customs declarations are submitted in advance of moving goods. Video guides to import, export, transit and the Customs RoRo service are available on the Revenue website.
