No agreement on Northern Ireland grace period

No agreement has been agreed to on extending the grace period on checks and control on the Great Britain-Northern Ireland border.

In terms of the Northern Ireland protocol, goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain now have to be subjected to EU checks. The checks apply particularly rigorous standards to agricultural products. 

A grace period had been agreed, limiting the certification requirements for certain food products. UK government officials have asked the EU to extend the grace period. However, negotiations are currently deadlocked.

Whatever the ultimate outcome of negotiations, businesses that move goods between GB and NI need to prepare an effective strategy to prevent delays and ensure business continuity. 


Keeping the food supply chain moving

The Northern Ireland grace period means that certain companies, such as supermarket chains, can in many cases forego Export Health Certificates when shipping food products from GB to NI. 

The grace period aims to prevent food shortages in supermarkets. Even with the grace period in effect, some food shortages have already been reported in Northern Ireland. 


Pet peeve

The plight of UK pet food manufacturers starkly illustrates the complexities of shipping agricultural products to the EU.
The chief executive of the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association says that only a third of pet food businesses that attempted to export to EU states in 2021 have been successful. 

According to reports, the exports are hampered by reams of obligatory paperwork, finding enough vets to certify consignments, and haulers refusing to accept consignments out of concern they’ll get stopped at the border. 
Once the NI grace period concludes, businesses moving goods between GB and NI should prepare for similar complexities.


Wrecked by red tape 

There are particularly stringent requirements involved in exporting agricultural products to the UE. However, the bureaucracy of Brexit affects all shipments from the UK to EU states. 

As VAT IT MD Selwyn Stein explained to City A.M., “get one thing wrong in the reams of new paperwork and goods can be impounded or fines levied.”

Stein pointed out that the situation becomes even more complex if you sell in more than one country. “If you are selling your goods in multiple European countries that is hours more work now needed to make sure they sail through borders.”


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re:TRADE, powered by VAT IT, is a holistic service that manages all the logistics, customs, VAT compliance processes, and refund mechanisms involved in moving goods between the UK and Europe. 

With 20 years of experience helping companies navigate EU bureaucracy, re:TRADE will tailor a solution to help your business cut through the red tape and ensure your goods get to market.