Jan 13th, 2021
2 mins
We have received a few queries from members asking if they are permitted to place products on the Northern Irish market which are labelled up with the old format UK ID/health mark.
To clarify, any latitude on the processes involved in sending goods over to Northern Ireland DOES NOT extend to labelling. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, goods sold in Northern Ireland MUST follow EU labelling rules.
The UK Government have been working closely with DAERA on the challenges this presents, and their current position remains:
“there will be a proportionate and risk-based enforcement approach for identification marks. This approach will be implemented in a way which supports businesses as they adapt to the requirements over time”.
However, the BFFF would strongly recommend where possible to try and clear any such stock on the GB market rather than send it over to NI and risk getting challenged. There is 21-month adjustment period for goods placed on the GB (England Scotland Wales) market to allow you to deplete existing stocks of old packaging, i.e., up until 1st October 2022.
