
To help traders moving goods from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI) for the hospitality sector – who may be unsure of the requirements for moving their goods and have questions about the process – Defra have arranged a live question and answer (Q&A) session on Tuesday, 18 May at 10am.
Details about how you can attend and how you can submit your questions ahead of the session are set out below. The Q&A session will be especially relevant to traders who are planning to move additional agri-food goods into Northern Ireland as the hospitality sector reopens after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Why join the Live Q&A session
As a trader moving products of animal origin, composite products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants and plant products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, there are rules you must follow, including the need for your goods to be accompanied by the correct official certification and the pre-notification of your point of entry ahead of their arrival in Northern Ireland.
The Scheme for Temporary Agri-food Movements to Northern Ireland (STAMNI) arrangements is only for goods destined solely for sale to end consumers in supermarkets located in Northern Ireland. Therefore, if you are an Authorised Trader, you must ensure your goods destined for hospitality are supported with the correct certification.
The Live Q&A session on 18 May provides you with an opportunity to get any questions you may have about moving your goods – and the process you need to follow – answered by a panel of experts. You will also be able to find out about the support available to you.
Getting ready for the Live Q&A session
Defra recently published a Reminder of requirements for hospitality sector traders, which sets out the 10 steps traders need to follow to ensure their goods can successfully move from GB to NI. The message also provided links to relevant guidance and other useful information to support you.
They have also recently published an updated toolkit on the GB-NI Trader Showcase, which sets out the requirements for traders moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This toolkit includes:
- Moving Goods from GB to NI on-demand webinar
- Moving Goods from GB to NI presentation slides
- Moving Goods from GB to NI webinar narrative
- Moving Goods from GB to NI process map
- Moving Goods from GB to NI trader FAQs
Defra encourages traders to review the toolkit before registering for the Live Q&A Session, using the link below. You can send Defra your questions before or during the session, so you should familiarise yourself with the process and requirements for your goods using the information set out in the toolkit.
How to register for the Live Q&A session
The Live Q&A Session will take place on Tuesday, 18 May at 10am. You can register to attend by using the below link. Defra will ask for your name, an email address and some basic information about your type of business. You’ll receive an email by return, which will confirm the event details and provide you with a calendar reminder. Registration will close at 11:30pm on Thursday, 13 May.
- Register for the Live Q&A Session here
- Submit your questions to traders@defra.gov.uk prior to the Live Q&A Session. You can also ask questions during the session.
Keeping you informed
Defra will keep you informed and up to date on developments that affect traders moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. If you have any questions in the meantime, please send them to traders@defra.gov.uk.