The closer we get to the end of the Brexit transition period, the clearer it becomes that significant change is coming for businesses in NI.

That was illustrated on Monday night when the Ulster Farmers’ Union hosted a webinar to explain the UK government’s new £355m Trade Support Service (TSS). Only an expert in trade could have come away with a firm grip on how the movement of goods from Britain to NI will operate from 1 January 2021 onwards.

Behind this is the NI protocol within the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, which effectively puts an EU border down the Irish Sea for the movement of goods. It does mean that goods will be able to move across Ireland as currently, and for movements from NI to Britain, the UK government has guaranteed unfettered access.. However, for trade in the opposite direction, the NI protocol means that a complex set of processes lie ahead.

To get standard goods (not those of animal origin) into NI from Britain, safety and security declarations and import declarations will be required. Once the goods are in circulation, more information will then be necessary to complete the transaction, including the country of origin, EU commodity codes etc.

Dual registration

Traders will also need an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number, and initially apply for one that starts with the pre-fix GB. However, NI traders will need to be able to interact with EU IT systems so also need an EORI number that starts with XI.

TSS will facilitate these customs declarations, initially as a free service, and it will automatically enrol a trader for a XI EORI number. It will also provide wider support and advice to those who register.

There are other issues for traders to consider, including possible EU tariffs on goods coming to NI that are deemed to be “at risk” of moving into the Republic of Ireland (although a free trade deal would minimise that issue).

For agri food-related goods there are the additional sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks designed to protect animal and plant health, which in NI will be the responsibility of DAERA.

Under the NI protocol, the island of Ireland is one SPS zone. In Britain, a Defra support service to assist traders is set to come into effect before the end of the year.

In the meantime, the advice to any farmer or business that might be moving goods from Britain to NI (such as livestock, agricultural machinery etc.) is to register for TSS at tradersupportservice.co.uk before 23 November 2020.

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