Windsor Framework to simplify GB/NI shipping

Trade bodies and shippers have welcomed new arrangement for goods moving between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) under the terms of the ‘Windsor Framework’ announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on 27th February 2023.

The (Windsor Framework) deal, which has to progress parliament, will amend the NI Protocol – the agreement which ensured that a hard border was avoided on the island of Ireland following Brexit – and ease the flow of goods across the Irish Sea.

The new deal will significantly reduce the number of checks, with two lanes being created for goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain:

Green lane – for goods which will remain in Northern Ireland, with minimal paperwork and no routine physical checks.
Red lane – for goods which may be sent on to the EU, may face customs processes and checks at NI ports.

Under the terms of the NI Protocol, shippers of foodstuffs and particularly fresh food like supermarkets, restaurants and wholesalers might need hundreds of certificates for every lorry into NI. With the new Windsor Framework, they would use a ‘green lane’, meaning minimal paperwork and no routine physical checks.

To use the green lane businesses will need to register as a trusted trader under the new United Kingdom Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS). Businesses, including supermarkets that are members of an existing qualifying scheme will be automatically moved onto the UKIMS scheme.

The current process of the NI Protocol meant that traders had to complete supplementary declarations, for goods that were moved from GB to NI, even if they remained and were not ‘At Risk’ of moving to the EU.

Customs officials seem fairly confident it will get approval in Parliament, having gained the support of the Labour opposition and in a further boost, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is setting up an eight-person panel to assess the views of unionists and a potential return to power sharing. DUP figures said the composition of the panel indicated that the party’s leadership was inclined to endorse the changes to the protocol.

Subject to the Windsor Framework advancing into law, the UK government will consult and work with business over the coming months, ahead of implementing any changes required.

The new processes are said to come into effect starting from 27th September 2023 with grace periods being introduced until 2025 for certain rules and checks.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the NI Protocol, The Windsor Framework or shipping into NI, please EMAIL Matt Fullard.