Moving Goods from the EU to GB

Moving Goods from the EU to GB.pdf (size 1.8 MB)

  • Brexit Update: Information from the IE-UK Unit, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

A Written Ministerial Statement made in the UK Parliament on 14/12/2021. Full text of the statement can be found here.

As part of the revised timetable on the introduction of import controls, which was announced by the UK Government in mid-September, the first phase of  the new controls were due to be implemented on the 1st January 2022. From this date, goods entering the UK from the EU were to be subject to customs and food-safety controls as well as safety and security declarations.

In this latest statement, the UK Government announced that it was postponing planned UK requirements for imports from Ireland that had been due to begin on 1 January 2022, until further notice.

This means that current arrangements will remain in place for goods moving from Ireland directly to Great Britain. Customs declarations and other regulatory controls will not apply from 1 January 2022 in relation to the movement of goods from Ireland to Great Britain.

The movement of goods transiting from Ireland to other EU countries via the UK Landbridge will also be exempt from the UK import requirements at this time.

The UK is proceeding with the introduction of all import requirements for inbound goods from other EU Member States into the UK from 1 January 2022. This will include the movement of goods transiting from the EU to Ireland via the UK Landbridge so that in this instance, all UK import controls, including those that apply to the movement of certain agri-food products, will be invoked from that date.

The www.gov.ie/Brexit website contains more detailed information on these changes and will be updated as any further information comes to light.

It is important to note however, that these planned controls for goods moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain have been postponed, not removed. Irish businesses exporting to the UK should continue to prepare for the introduction of new UK import and customs controls in 2022.