Windsor Framework: Sending Parcels to Northern Ireland

Table of Contents

What is the Windsor Framework?

The Northern Ireland Protocol was part of the withdrawal agreement between the UK and the European Union following Brexit. Its main purpose was to prevent a hard border forming on the island of Ireland. It’s objectives are:

Avoiding a hard border: The Protocol aimed at creating a free flow of goods between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by keeping Northern Ireland under some EU rules. This meant checks wouldn’t be needed at the border.
Northern Ireland’s relationship: While the rest of the UK left the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union, Northern Ireland remained under some of their regulations. This created a unique situation for Northern Ireland within the UK
Goods moving from Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) to Northern Ireland had to go through checks and paperwork to comply with EU rules

Under the Windsor Framework, the arrangements for sending parcels from Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) to Northern Ireland will depend on whether they are sent to or from a private individual or a business

Private Individuals:
Will be able to receive parcels sent from Great Britain just as they do today, not customs formalities required.
Business to Business:
Will be treated in line with usual customs regulations. Will be able to move with simplified clearance if they are eligible under the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMs)

B2B movements

If you are shipping Business to Business movement between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, this new protocol will be enforced from the 30th September 2024.

Type of shipment	Procedures	Potential duty required?	Data to supply with the shipment
B2B with UKIMS	Simplified declaration	No	Item level goods description, value, sender or receiver UKIMS number and EORI, country of origin, weight, commodity code (if known/available)
B2B with no UKIMS	Full declaration	Yes	Item level goods description, value, sender and receiver EORIs, country of origin, weight, commodity code (if known/available)

The new UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS)

It is an enhanced and expanded trusted trader scheme that will replace the UK Trader Scheme. UKIMS authorisation enables registered businesses to move goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in line with the ‘not at risk’ arrangements.

‘Not at risk’ goods will: Not be charged duty if entering Northern Ireland from free circulation in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) To be deemed ‘not at risk’ goods you must be you must be satisfied that these goods entered Northern Ireland for the purpose of being sold or used by end consumers located in Northern Ireland. You’ll need to keep evidence to demonstrate this.

‘At risk’ goods will: Be charged the applicable EU rate of duty and will require a full declaration. www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-authorisation-for-the-uk-internal-marketscheme-if-you-bring-goods-into-northern-ireland

B2B data requirements with valid UKIMS

Name and address of Sender from GB
Name and address of Receiver in NI
Description per item
No of items
Value per item
Weight per item
Country of origin
Exporter or Importer UKIMS
Exporter details (including EORI)
Importer details (including EORI if importer UKIMS used)
The total value of parcel(s)
Total weight of parcel(s)

What changes will you see in our Software

We will be adding the following new fields to the system to allow you to comply with the new Windsor framework requirements:

UKIMS field on the Client screen to capture the Senders UKIMS number
UKIMS field on the address profile screen to enable for a different Sender/Receiver UKIMS number
UKIMS fields within the API request and Job import templates.
Proforma section will now display when shipping to a destination within Northern Ireland (will not trigger for any other place within the GB country code setup)
Proforma templates will be updated to display UKIMS number for Sender and Receiver.