Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme: Labelling requirements
Introduction
Last updated 13 September 2023
From 1 October 2023, businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will be able to move prepacked retail goods and certain loose goods, including fruit and vegetables, through the “green lane” to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. This is the Retail Movement Scheme.
From this date, there will be new labelling requirements for moving goods through the green lane to make sure that goods are not moved onwards into the EU. These include different requirements for labelling individual products, some boxes and displaying signage in retail premises in Northern Ireland.
The Retail Movement Scheme means you will no longer need to complete multiple export health certificates or put an EU address on individual products. Movements will use a single General Certificate and can use an address in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), the Channel Islands (Guernsey and Jersey) and the Isle of Man.
You must continue to follow existing UK food packaging and labelling regulations and any health and identification marks needed.
This guide explains the labelling requirements for food products and details the products that need individual product labels from phase 1 starting on 1 October 2023, phase 2 from 1 October 2024, and phase 3 from 1 July 2025.