AQW 29567/17-22


Mrs Pam Cameron
Democratic Unionist Party
South Antrim


Tabled Date: 10/02/2022
Answered On Date: 22/02/2022
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy for a list of all active remaining grace periods of the NI Protocol pertaining to trade.


Answer:
The issue of grace periods or delays to full implementation is complex. There are areas where the EU and UK have agreed measures and other areas where the UK Government position is that there will be standstill implementation of the Protocol, which is no change to how the Protocol was being implemented from September. There are of course other areas where there are ongoing disagreements about what constitutes implementation of various pieces of legislation. I see this is part of the process of negotiation with the EU.
The following grace periods from GB to NI are known to be in operation and have been extended indefinitely. They cover, for example:
A grace period to allow the movement of chilled meats classed as prohibited and restricted (P&R) goods, such as sausages.
Scheme for Authorised Movements to Northern Ireland (STAMNI) for authorised traders which includes:
GB-NI Export Health Certificates; and
High Risk Food Not of Animal Origin
Temporary arrangements for parcels continue to apply, and in almost all cases, goods sent to NI consumers from GB businesses will not require a customs declaration, unless the goods are either:
prohibited or restricted
being sent from a business to another business where the value of the good is greater than £135
The Digital Assistance Scheme continues to support the movement of agri-food goods and live animals from GB to NI in line with the Protocol. It provides a simplified end to end digital system which streamlines the certification and verification processes required for moving goods from GB to NI.
Traders moving Rest of World (RoW) originating steel (steel which is not of EU or UK origin) may continue to move these goods into NI without being subject to safeguard charges where relevant quotas are open. Without this mitigation, RoW steel imported into NI, or moved into NI from GB would be subject to the EU’s out-of-quota rate of 25%.
Other examples of time-limited grace periods from GB to NI currently known to be in operation are:
A grace period for Medicines extended until the end of 2022 unless EU proposals to ensure the continued long-term supply of medicines from GB to NI are finalised sooner.
The Movement Assistance Scheme, extended until 31 December 2023, which permits:
a trader moving agri-food goods from GB to NI to not pay for some inspections and certificates or some other costs incurred due to the Protocol.
an official veterinarian or other certifier, to not charge for some inspections, certificates and some other costs, such as a scrapie test.