Important updates and information for truck drivers:
The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020 after both sides concluded a Withdrawal Agreement to facilitate an orderly departure.
The Withdrawal Agreement provided for a transition period, which ended on 31 December 2020.
On 24 December 2020, the EU and UK negotiating teams reached agreement in principle on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which came into effect at the end of the transition period. The Agreement provides for tariff-free, quota-free trade and for sectoral cooperation in a number of important areas. The European Commission has provided more information on the Agreement on its website . Given the late stage at which the negotiations were finalised, the European Commission has recommended that the Agreement is provisionally applied for a period from 1 January while the EU and UK procedures to conclude the agreement are completed.
It is important to note that even with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in place, the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December brings substantial and lasting change, as the UK is no longer part of the EU Single Market and Customs Union. This will mean new procedures apply for businesses moving goods to, from or through the UK, excluding Northern Ireland. The Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland , which forms part of the Withdrawal Agreement agreed between the EU and the UK in 2019, means that no new procedures will apply to goods moving between Northern Ireland and Ireland (and the other Member States of the European Union).
- On 11 March, the UK Government revised the timelines on which it will introduce new controls on imports from the EU. Irish businesses exporting to the UK must now maximise the available time to prepare for the introduction of these controls on 1 October 2021, 1 January 2022 and 1 March 2022.
- These new UK import controls will impact on exporters of all products of animal origin, including all meat, dairy, fish and composite products incorporating products of animal origin, certain animal by-products, high risk food not of animal origin as well as regulated plants and plant products.
- In addition to the necessary customs formalities, Irish exporters exporting to or through the UK, excluding Northern Ireland need to comply with a number of new UK requirements. Your UK importer will have to pre-notify the UK authorities of the goods, you will have to get the appropriate Health Certificate(s) from the Irish authorities and you will have to move the goods together with these Health Certificate(s).
- It’s crucial that exporters fully understand these new UK import requirements and ensure everyone in the supply chain, including your UK importer, is clear on their roles and responsibilities and can meet them.
- A range of Government supports are available, including training and grants, to help your business deal with these changes. However, you will also need to engage with your UK importer and with the UK authorities.
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Details of key services for businesses are available here .
Read the latest update on: Traffic Management Plans for Dublin Port and Dublin City Road Network
For information and guides on preparing your business for Brexit, click here
It is important that we all understand these changes and the necessary steps we now need to take.
To keep up to date on the latest news:
- check out our ongoing calendar of Government events across the country with details of upcoming events in your sector or locality
- check out the latest EU information on Brexit preparedness for business and for citizens
- follow Getting Ireland Brexit Ready on Twitter. @BrexitReadyIRL is the main government Twitter account for the latest Brexit news
- find out more about the process that led to the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration
