Trading with NI Updates: Labelling Changes and CERTEX Implementation Delay

Trading with Northern Ireland

From the 1st of July 2025, the UK government will implement Phase 3 of the ‘Not for EU’ labelling requirements. This phase introduces stricter rules for a wider range of food and retail products moving into Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS). These rules are designed to make it clear that certain goods are intended solely for consumption in the UK and not for sale in the EU.

Products requiring individual labels

From this date, many more products will need to carry an individual label marked ‘Not for EU’. These include:

• Pre-packed fruit and vegetables such as apples, oranges, beansprouts, and packaged herbs.

• Fish and seafood in fresh, frozen, or processed form - including tinned fish, prawns, scampi, and fish pâté.

• Products of animal origin (POAO) like eggs, honey, and supplements made solely from animal products.

• Chilled or frozen composite foods such as pizzas, ready meals, quiches, lasagnes, scotch eggs, desserts (e.g. eclairs, mousses), and dairy-based drinks.

• Shelf-stable composite products that contain non-exempt POAO, including baby formula, meal kits with cheese, mayonnaise, and pesto.

• High-risk food of non-animal origin (HRFNAO), for example: rice from India or Pakistan, tea from China, and peanuts from the USA.

• Certain cut flowers listed in EU plant health regulations, such as roses, orchids, and Christmas trees.

  
  

Products that are exempt

Some products do not require individual labelling, particularly if they do not undergo official controls or are fully shelf-stable without meat or dairy content. These include:

• Processed fruit and vegetables, such as tinned tomatoes, salad boxes, and fruit salads.

• Frozen plant-based products without animal ingredients, such as frozen peas or sorbet.

• Dried fruits, herbs and spices.

• Baked goods, cereals, pasta, and bread – as long as they are not mixed or filled with meat.

• Spreads, sauces, and drinks, including jams, peanut butter, vinegar, soft drinks, and most alcoholic beverages.

In addition, products sold loose, by weight, or prepared for immediate consumption (e.g. from a deli counter, in restaurants or in canteens) are generally exempt from individual labelling, although they may still require box or shelf-level labelling.

Retail and technical guidance

Retail premises in Northern Ireland must ensure that unlabelled goods have visible shelf labels stating ‘Not for EU’. Posters must also be displayed in-store to inform customers. These can be in paper or digital format and may be designed by the retailer or use government templates.

All labels - whether on products, boxes, or shelves - must be clear, legible, and secure. Adhesive labels are acceptable, but they must not be easy to remove.

Transition period

A 30-day transition period will apply, meaning goods already on the market before 1 July 2025 can be sold without relabelling until 31 July 2025. For more information or help, businesses can contact: ni.trade@defra.gov.uk 

Delay to the implementation of CERTEX

Businesses trading with Northern Ireland should also be aware of a delay in the implementation of CERTEX, the new licence verification system intended to replace the Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS).

Originally due to come into effect on 28th of June 2025, CERTEX has now been postponed until further notice.

Key points:

• For goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, you should begin using the new CHED reference format on declarations, but you will not receive CERTEX messages in CDS yet.

• For goods coming from the Rest of the World to Northern Ireland, you must continue using the existing CHED format (e.g. GBCHD2025.1234567).

• Pre-lodged declarations using the new format must be corrected to avoid rejections or delays.

  
  

You should continue using existing ALVS processes and monitor the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) or relevant inventory systems for updates.

For further CERTEX-related support, contact:

• DAERA: 0300 200 7852 | daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk

• HMRC: 0300 322 9434

Source www.gov.uk, TSS Newsletter, and HMRC

Support for businesses affected by the new rules

If your business is experiencing challenges when trading with Northern Ireland or adapting to the latest regulations, the Chamber is here to help. We offer a range of tailored services to support companies of all sizes:

• Customs Clearance & Transit Services

  As an HMRC-compliant customs broker, we assist UK traders with export and import customs entries and transit documentation across all UK ports and airports. To set up an account or learn more, contact us at chambercustoms@gmchamber.co.uk or complete our short online form.  .

  
  

• Training Courses

  Our expert-led training covers a wide range of topics, including customs declarations, import/export procedures, and documentation requirements - all designed to keep your team up to date with current regulations. View our upcoming courses here.

• Expert Advice and Ongoing Support

  Our award-winning team provides practical guidance and tailored solutions to help your business stay compliant and trade with confidence.

For further information or to discuss your specific needs, please email us international@gmchamber.co.uk