On 1 October 2023 new arrangements for the movement of goods to Northern Ireland (NI) will come into force under the Windsor Framework (which replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol). These arrangements include the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) scheme which will provide a ‘Green Lane’ for GB-NI movement of plants for planting, seeds, seed potatoes and used agricultural and forestry machinery. Under the scheme these goods (some of which were previously prohibited or restricted to export via phytosanitary certificate) will be able to move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland between professional operators, without requiring an export inspection or phytosanitary certification.
Traders in England and Wales will need to be registered and authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and comply with specific requirements which will be set out in guidance later this month. Authorisation will allow professional operators to issue NI Plant Health Labels for plants for planting, seeds and used agricultural/forestry machinery moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Seed potatoes can also be moved from GB to NI using the NI Plant Health Label. However, similarly to the Seed Potato Classification Scheme, NI Plant Health labels for seed potatoes must be issued by APHA.
If you move goods to NI (or might do so in the future) please look out for the instructions on how to apply for the scheme later this month.