The UK government has introduced stricter regulations to prevent Northern Ireland from being used as a backdoor for smuggling international food products into Great Britain.
As of Tuesday, all food and animal feed products must be processed or owned by a Northern Ireland-registered business to maintain unrestricted access to the GB market.
A government spokesperson reaffirmed that “qualifying goods” will still enjoy unfettered access, regardless of whether they travel directly or indirectly via Ireland. However, the move follows industry concerns that post-Brexit trading rules were being exploited to bypass border checks.
The new controls align with biosecurity measures already in place for goods entering GB from the Republic of Ireland and the wider EU. Northern Ireland’s unique post-Brexit position—remaining in the EU’s single market for goods—allows for seamless trade with the Republic of Ireland, but EU products entering the rest of the UK still require declarations and checks.
While the government insists this change enhances traceability and prevents regulatory loopholes, enforcement may prove challenging. The original Qualifying NI Goods Regulations provided a broad definition, which has now been tightened specifically for food and feed products.
Under the new system, non-qualifying food items can still be shipped to GB but will require official certification and border checks at ports. Meanwhile, qualifying goods remain exempt from these restrictions, ensuring Northern Ireland-based businesses retain their access to the GB market.
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