Logistics UK is calling for the government and the EU to agree three key changes to speed up the movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the UK.

The call was made last week at a government roundtable attended by Logistics UK’s Northern Ireland policy manager Seamus Leheny and chaired by cabinet secretary Michael Gove MP and European Commission vice president Maroš Šefčovič.

Leheny said: “Logistics UK laid out three key asks. Firstly, we want to see the development of a Retail Movement Scheme to govern the transportation of agri-food goods, plants and animals between GB and NI.

“The checks on these items – known as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks – must be proportionate to the low risk these items present to health to prevent any unnecessary administration and delays.

“Secondly, industry needs to see the introduction of a Trusted Trader status for parcel operators to reduce expensive administrative burdens on placed on business to consumer consignments.

“And finally, to enable the successful delivery of these schemes, the grace periods currently in place under the Protocol must be extended sufficiently to enable longer term simplifications to be agreed and implemented.”

Leheny said the roundtable had opened an important new dialogue between businesses and EU-UK governments but he warned: “There is much work still to be done to smooth trade flows – industry needs to be given clarity, certainty and simplifications in the weeks and months ahead.”

Topics