New authorisation needed to move goods to Northern Ireland

Written by

Under the Windsor Framework, the UK Internal Market Scheme – UKIMS is replacing the UK Trader Scheme from 30 September 2023.

If you want to join the UKIMS, you will need to apply online to be authorised. If you’re authorised, you will be able to declare your goods ‘not at risk’ if they are brought into Northern Ireland for sale or final use by end consumers in the UK.

If you’re already authorised under the UK Trader Scheme, for goods moving before 30 September 2023, you can continue to use the UK Trader Scheme authorisation to declare your goods ‘not at risk’. For goods moving on or after 30 September 2023, the UK Trader Scheme authorisation will no longer be valid and you must use the UK Internal Market Scheme authorisation.

Click here to access the guidance and application page.

If you need more information or support completing your UK Internal Market Scheme authorisation, you can register with the Trader Support Service to support you with this process. The Trader Support Service will also guide you through any changes due to the implementation of the Windsor Framework.

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

Windsor Framework Briefing Document

Written by

On Monday, the 27th of February the Government announced a new deal in principle with the EU regarding moving goods to and from Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Known as the Windsor Framework, if passed it will mean that businesses in Great Britain can ship goods intended for use in Northern Ireland with minimal customs checks.

Whilst this doesn’t mean that goods can enter the EU Single Market through Northern Ireland without checks or duties paid, it does mean that businesses can look forward to exporting goods to Northern Ireland much easier than they are currently.

The Chamber has developed a need-to-know document on the Windsor Framework, which gives a brief outline of the lengthy documents the UK Government and the European Commission have published. We would highly encourage members who are exporting their goods to read it, as it includes what you will need to do to take advantage of new arrangements. This development is good news for the North East, as it signals an easing in tensions between Brussels and Westminster. The EU’s trade value for the North East is bigger than the rest of the world combined, so businesses will hopefully find a sense of security in a positive outcome for EU-UK relations.

Download it here.

The Windsor Framework: Why it’s So Important to the North East

Written by

Callum George’s latest for The Journal

Well, last week wasn’t the one I had – maybe too optimistically – planned for. The Monday I’d booked leave for wasn’t spent celebrating winning the Carabao Cup (although I’m sure Newcastle United will be back at Wembley soon), instead it was spent sat on the sofa with the news on in the background.

The UK and the EU have announced the ‘Windsor Framework’ – which allows businesses in Great Britain to trade within Northern Ireland with much less hassle. For a lot of businesses, this will be met with a sigh of relief, as it’s fair to say under past governments, news about the Northern Ireland Protocol was rarely positive.

Since the moment I joined the Chamber’s Policy Team, I’ve been asked why the Northern Ireland Protocol affects the North East. To be honest with you, I don’t think I appreciated the extent of how important it is to the North East before starting this role.

I suppose a good starting point would be to understand the North East’s relationship with the EU. In a nutshell, the EU is the North East’s biggest trading partner both in terms of buying and selling goods: so much so that if you were to take the rest of the world outside the EU, we still trade more with the EU than every other part of the world put together. With that in mind, it’s fair to say that a range of North East businesses depend on a healthy economic relationship with mainland Europe.

Of course, since Brexit, our relationship with Europe has been forced to change. A lot of British products that your average European could find on shelves simply aren’t shipped from the UK anymore. The variety of British products available in the Eurozone has decreased dramatically. Those who still rely on trading to and from the EU, can’t afford for business to be tougher.

That’s what makes solving the tensions around the Northern Ireland Protocol so important to the North East. Rewind to the middle of last year, and discussions about the Northern Ireland Protocol were worrying. Talks of increased tariffs on British goods going to Europe were rumoured, making trading in the EU even more difficult. With some firms already struggling following Brexit, this would have caused real damage to the North East’s economy.

The news of the Windsor Framework is extremely positive, as it provides businesses with more clarity and certainty for their day-to-day business. Hopefully, this can be the start of a stronger post-Brexit relationship between the UK and the EU. And – although the Carabao Cup wasn’t meant to be – I’m sure the North East’s relationship with the EU will be symbolised nicely by seeing a few more black and white shirts around Europe next season.