8 March 2023

The Windsor Framework - overview and opportunity to feedback to Government

The PM and the European Commission agreed a new framework for post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland at the end of last month. It'll replace the troublesome Northern Ireland Protocol, the basic plan being for two routes for goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Products travelling through Northern Ireland to get to the Republic of Ireland will go through a ‘red lane', meaning they'll be subject to all the customs checks when they leave GB. Goods intended to stay in Northern Ireland will get the ‘green lane' treatment, without the customs red tape which has been an especial problem for supermarkets and pharmaceutical companies.

It's not super-straightforward, though. The ‘Stormont Brake' is a clause in the Agreement that allows the Northern Ireland Assembly to veto changes in EU goods law from applying. And there still has to be vote on this by MPs - not expected until after the Budget - but Labour has signalled they'll back it, meaning it'll certainly go through. There's likely to be opposition from the Democratic Unionist Party, the European Research Group faction of the Conservatives, and one Boris Johnson - all are concerned that the new plan means the EU still has too much power over Northern Ireland.

Once it's all agreed, the new system will come into place for some goods later this year, but for most it will be 2024. To use the green lane, you'll be required to register as a ‘trusted trader' under the new UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS), but once you're registered you will no longer have to provide a ‘supplementary declaration', which is currently a pretty onerous form.

We have an opportunity to provide some initial feedback from businesses in the UK printing and printed packaging industry to Government - so please respond to this very short survey and tell us your thoughts.

Click here to respond to the BPIF's Windsor Framework survey - and help inform Government.

This survey only contains four questions and a comment opportunity - it should only take a few minutes to respond, so please don't delay!