Post-Brexit customs checks into NI delayed indefinitely, says UK government

Post-Brexit checks on goods including meats and parcels into Northern Ireland (NI) have been delayed once again and this time indefinitely, the government has confirmed.

The move will bring relief to hauliers transporting goods to NI who have been bracing themselves for the introduction of the new customs checks, which were due to start this month at the end of the grace period. This was designed to ease the transition into new trading arrangements and checks on goods entering Northern Ireland and has twice been extended as part of negotiations between the EU and Britain after delays of goods at the border and civil unrest in NI threatened to undermine the Good Friday peace agreement.

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Yesterday (6 September) the government announced a fresh extension, which, unlike previous extensions, has no deadline, and, according to government sources, said has been “coordinated, if not agreed upon” with the EU. The aim of the extension is to allow negotiations between the two sides without the pressure of a three- or six-month deadline, according to government sources.

In a statement, David Frost, who is leading the negotiations with the EU on disputed elements of the NI Protocol, said that the aim of this latest extension was “to provide space for potential further discussions, and to give certainty and stability to businesses while any such discussions proceed, the government will continue to operate the protocol on the current basis”.

He added: “This includes the grace periods and easements currently in force… We will ensure that reasonable notice is provided in the event that these arrangements were to change, to enable businesses and citizens to prepare.”