The Windsor Framework, agreed by the Prime Minister and European Commission President, has replaced the old Northern Ireland Protocol, dealing with the issues it has created and providing a new legal and UK constitutional framework.
It delivers free-flowing trade in goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland by removing any sense of the border in the Irish Sea for goods staying within the UK. These goods will travel as normal through a new green lane without red tape or unnecessary checks, with the only checks remaining designed to prevent smuggling or crime.
There will be no change to procedures at the moment. But, establishment rules will be changed so that the exporter does not have to have premises in Northern Ireland. If the exporter from Great Britain is part of the enhanced trusted trader scheme, the shipment can go through a virtual green lane into Northern Ireland (if the goods are to stay in Northern Ireland).
Susan Morley FCILT, Chair of CILT's Customs & International Trade Compliance Forum advised that key points include:
- Only commercial data elements required which could be entered via the TSS system prior to shipment.
- No tariff codes (commodity codes required)
- No customs declarations needed at export or import
- No Export Health Certificate or Phytosanitary Certificates required
- Any product that is permitted within Great Britain can be shipped to Northern Ireland so long as it is going to stay there
Goods at risk of going to the Republic of Ireland or intended to go the Republic of Ireland will go via a virtual red lane where full documentation will be required along with the payment of EU import duty and VAT according to EU rules. Customs declarations will be required.
See details in the Command Paper and in the ‘explainer’ papers and the proposed legislation here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-windsor-framework
There will be a CILT webinar to discuss the benefits of the Windsor Framework.