If you're in Northern Ireland, you may qualify for further support. To find out more click here.
Trader Support Service
As mentioned above, the new Trader Support Service will be made available to all traders who move goods between GB and NI, or bring goods into NI from outside the UK.
The TSS will be free to use and will guide you through any changes to the way goods move between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and into Northern Ireland from outside the UK.
You can also use it to get customs declarations completed on your behalf.
You can register your interest now and the Service is expected to go live in September.
Northern Ireland Protocol update
The Government has, this month, issued further guidance for businesses moving goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol. Due to take effect at the end of the Transition Period, the Protocol is the practical solution designed to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Exporting NI to GB
Moving goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain should take place as it does now – there will be no additional process, paperwork, or restrictions on Northern Ireland goods moving to Great Britain, delivering unfettered access.
Exporting GB to NI
Changes for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be kept to an absolute minimum but will entail some new admin processes, notably new electronic import declaration requirements, and safety and security information, for goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. These are needed to make sure that tariffs are not paid on trade within the UK and that goods going to Ireland pay tariffs when they should.
A new Trader Support Service (more information below), available to all traders at no cost, will be available - alongside guidance on the processes for food and agricultural products.
Northern Ireland trade updates
If you're trading between GB and NI, you will need an EORI number that starts with XI in order to continue.
Yes, this is different to your GB EORI number, and you will need your GB EORI number to apply for your XI EORI number. If you don't have a GB EORI number, you can apply for both at the same time. The application takes 5-10 minutes.
Hopefully if you trade with NI, you've already signed up for the Trader Support Service (TSS) we've previously told you about. Although the TSS takes a lot of the work out of your hands, the Northern Ireland Customs & Trade Academy is offering free training once you've signed up. These courses are available:
- Introduction to Customs,
- Great Britain to Northern Ireland Trade
- Introduction to Tariffs and Classification
- Logistics in GB:NI Trade
- Trade Procedures and Documentation
It's all online and more courses are coming soon. There are also webinars you can play back at any time.
