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The European Union and the United Kingdom have agreed on a trustworthy merchant scheme that would mean duty exemptions for up to 98% of goods flowing between Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of January 1, RTÉ News has learned.
It is understood that the remaining 2% could benefit from discounts on any rate.
In general, tariffs would only apply if a free trade agreement between the EU and the UK is not concluded.
Both parties have also agreed that agri-food products from the UK to Northern Ireland will be exempt from requiring export health certificates for a period of at least three months.
These have proven to be the biggest concern for UK supermarket chains in Northern Ireland, which rely on large, mixed shipments of food from UK warehouses.
Export health certificates can cost up to £ 200 per product and must be signed by a designated veterinary inspector.
It is understood that the question of how supermarkets will comply with EU food safety standards could be addressed by a commitment from the UK, possibly a statement, that it does not intend to change its food safety standards as of 1 January.
At that time, those standards will remain the same as the EU food safety standards.
The trustworthy trading scheme would be subject to a review, or expiration clause, three and a half years after the Protocol enters into force, according to an internal EU report.
If the EU is not satisfied with the way the plan works, it can activate an emergency brake through the EU-UK Joint Committee, which is tasked with implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Alternatively, the system could be modified rather than completely stopped, depending on how it is working, it is understood.
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The three-and-a-half year review clause is deliberately timed to precede the Northern Ireland Assembly’s first vote on whether or not the Protocol’s trade provisions should be continued.
This is under the consent clause of the Protocol.
It is understood that refrigerated meats, sausages, minced meat and non-frozen prepared meals, whose entry into the EU is prohibited and restricted from third countries, will be allowed for a period of time, pending a review by both parties.
And that once the exception period has elapsed, supermarkets in the North will have to purchase these products locally or from the South.
It is also understood that the various grace periods and derogations will give supermarkets time to improve their own food traceability and stock management systems, which in turn could help reassure Member States regarding the safety of the products. food supplies potentially entering the single market from the UK, which will be a third country.
The EU and the UK have also agreed in principle that summary exit declarations will not be required for goods going from Northern Ireland to Great Britain and that the information will be generated from data, such as that found in manifests. , which already exist when the trucks bring consignments. by ferries to GB.
It is understood that EU officials who have the right to oversee the implementation of controls and controls in northern ports will be located in temporary office spaces, such as joint working facilities.
These officials, mainly from the customs field, will be recruited in the member states and rotated within and outside of Northern Ireland.
However, EU member states will also have the right to monitor UK customs databases within their own capitals as part of their surveillance of goods entering Northern Ireland and thus entering the rest of the single market.
The EU College of Commissioners is being briefed on the deal and both parties are expected to release details tomorrow.
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