The Northern Ireland Protocol governing trade between Great Britain and the region comes into effect when the Brexit transition period ends at 11pm on New Year’s Eve.
Here are answers to some of the main questions about the protocol, its origins and how it will work.
– Why was the protocol needed?
It was the resolution to the main sticking point in the Brexit divorce talks – the Irish border. In order to avoid disrupting cross-border trade and a return of checkpoints along the politically sensitive frontier, the EU and UK essentially agreed to move new regulatory and customs processes to the Irish Sea. That means the checks are now focused on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
BBC News
By John Campbell
Published
image captionBorder control posts have been set up near Belfast s docks
A new trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will begin operating at 23:00 GMT on Thursday.
The Irish Sea border is a consequence of Brexit.
It means that all commercial goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain will need a customs declaration.
Food products from GB will have to enter through new border control posts at Northern Ireland s ports.
Many food products will also need health certificates and there will be some physical checks.
Some of the new certification processes for food will be phased in over the next three months.
The Northern Ireland Protocol kicks off from tonight - here s what you need to know
New checks and processes on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland will come into operation at 11pm tonight. By Press Association Thursday 31 Dec 2020, 12:18 PM Dec 31st 2020, 12:18 PM 49,113 Views 35 Comments
Image: PA
Image: PA
THE NORTHERN IRELAND Protocol governing trade between Great Britain and the region comes into effect when the Brexit transition period ends at 11pm this evening.
Here are answers to some of the main questions about the protocol, its origins and how it will work.
Why was the protocol needed?
It was the resolution to the main sticking point in the Brexit divorce talks – the Irish border.
A lorry driver views the queue of lorries on the M20 as lorries wait to enter the Eurotunnel site in Folkestone, Kent, due to heavy freight traffic. Credit: PA
The UK’s largest supermarkets have told the government that they don’t believe its Trader Support Service will be working in time for the end of transition and have urged it to find another way to ensure they can supply their shops in Northern Ireland in the new year.
Every week Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Co-op and Iceland send tens of thousands of product lines across the Irish Sea from the British mainland.
Movement Assistance Scheme to support agrifood traders
Support includes a dedicated helpline and means traders will not need to pay certification costs
From:
16 December 2020
New support for traders and businesses goes live today with the launch of the Movement Assistance Scheme (MAS), to help them meet new requirements for moving animals, plants and associated products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland after the transition period ends.
This includes advice to businesses through a dedicated helpline and means traders will not need to pay certification costs, which will be reimbursed by government to those certifying the products. Together, these measures will make it easier for traders to continue to move agri-food goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.