Brexit Advice

The UK has left the EU and as part of the Withdrawal Agreement a Transition Period was agreed that came to an end on 31 December 2020.  The Northern Ireland Protocol came into force on 1 January 2021.  For as long as it is in force, Northern Ireland will align with all relevant EU rules relating to the placing on the market of manufactured goods. There is more information on the transition here https://www.gov.uk/transition

Comprehensive information about Brexit and how it might impact Northern Ireland and people living here is available from on the NI Direct website. A number of government departments and agencies are providing help for businesses to prepare for BREXIT (ie after the Transition Period), in the form of information and advice – see link below:-

• Advice & Guidelines for Businesses

Brexit - Guidance for the Food Industry

As the UK has left the EU, the Food Standards Agency has published  guidance on the steps your business may need to take. While the current requirements for food will continue to apply with no or limited changes for most businesses, there may be significant changes to what some specific types of businesses including approved premises, importers and exporters need to do.

The UK Government has published the following additional sources of guidance: 

• Guidance on importing and exporting animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin after EU Exit
• The Defra website has the latest information on the work that Defra are doing.

This information will be updated as the government and EU makes decisions and requirements become clearer.

• EU Exit info
• Businesses can also be preparing by finding out the customs/CN codes for their commodities
• Invest NI events
• Guidance on Identification Marks that applies from 1st Jan 2021

 
If businesses have any queries in relation to trader readiness, they can contact the DAERA Brexit Operational Readiness team at [email protected]
 

Brexit – Guidance on Consumer Product Safety

The following links to official guidance regarding consumer product safety, may be of assistance regarding EU rules relating to the placing on the market of manufactured goods.

Brexit Transition

• https://www.gov.uk/transition
• EU Transition Business Readiness Leaflet

Moving Goods and Conformity Marks

• Moving Goods Into/Out of/through Northern Ireland

• Moving Goods Under the Northern Ireland Protocol

• Using the UKNI marking from 1 January 2021
• Information on Exporting and importing businesses:

Trader Support Services

• Sign up for the Trader Support Service

• Trader Support Services Communication resources

Placing Goods on the Market

• Placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain from 1 January 2021

• Placing Manufactured Goods on the EU market from 1st January 2021

• Placing Goods on the market in Northern Ireland

Conformity Assessment Bodies

• Conformity assessment bodies: change of status from 1 January 2021

• Designated Standards

Guidance on Product Safety Regulations

Where to find guides for businesses on specific product safety regulations from 1 January 2021.

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-product-safety-and-metrology-in-a-no-deal-brexit
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukni-marking-from-1-january-2021
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-and-metrology-from-1-january-2021-northern-ireland
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/product-safety-and-metrology-from-1-january-2021-great-Britain

Construction Products

• Construction Products Regulation from 1 January 2021
• Further advice on consumer product safety is available from the Consumer Protection section of our Derry City and Strabane District Councils website here and from the Office for Product Safety and Standards here. BEIS has also launched a series of on-demand videos on subjects ranging from trade to data to help business understand the new rules. Businesses can sign up through the following link, available here.