ÌìÃÀÓ°Ôº

Before you can move goods under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS), you need to:

• check your goods are eligible
• register for NIRMS

Labelling rulesÌý

All goods moved under the scheme must:

• be labelled correctly under NIRMS
• only be moved to an establishment in Northern Ireland that is listed under the scheme

Complete a general certificateÌý

You need a ‘general certificate’ for each consignment of goods moving under NIRMS.ÌýÌý

After you have registered for NIRMS, you can complete the general certificate through EHC online. A general certificate has a unique number.Ìý

To apply for a general certificate, you need to provide the:ÌýÌý

• name and address of the consignor and consignee
• information about the responsible operatorÌý
• place of dispatch and destination
• means of transport
• point of entryÌý
• seal numbersÌý

Complete an additional document forÌýNIRMSÌý²µ´Ç´Ç»å²õÌýÌý

You must complete an additional document for NIRMS goods. This is often a form of packing list and must include:Ìý

• a description of the retail goods  Ìý
• the nature of the products Ìý
• the type of treatment that has been applied to the product, for example if it is raw or has been processed
• the Retail Movement Scheme number of the place they are being dispatched from in Great BritainÌýÌý
• the number of packagesÌý
• the net weightÌý
• the country of origin, for some productsÌýÌý
• a declaration that any goods from the rest of the world in the consignment covered by this document have passed checks or been through an EU border control post, where necessary

You can also add theÌýcommodity codeÌýto the packing list, but you do not have to.

You need to provide one additional document (packing list) for each general certificate, which covers all of theÌýNIRMSÌý±è°ù´Ç»å³Ü³¦³Ù²õ. The packing list cannot cover 2 general certificates.ÌýÌý

In the future, APHA will introduce a digital update toÌýNIRMSÌýthat will embed the general certificate reference into your additional document (packing list). This guidance will be updated when this change is made. You canÌýsign up for updates to this page.

Non-NIRMSÌýgoods and the packing listÌýÌý

Non-NIRMSÌýgoods are goods that are not moving underÌýNIRMS. For example, goods that are moving under:

• Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) rules
• general import rules

If you are movingÌýNIRMSÌýand non-NIRMSÌýgoods together, you do not need to complete a full packing list for the non-NIRMSÌýgoods. You only need to add a short product description for non-NIRMSÌýgoods and mark them as ‘non-NIRMS’.

You can complete a packing list for non-NIRMSÌý±è°ù´Ç»å³Ü³¦³Ù²õ if you want to. You must clearly separate non-NIRMSÌýgoods on the packing list. For example, by creating a separate:ÌýÌý

• tab on the spreadsheetÌýÌý
• table on the documentÌýÌý
• column that states if the goods areÌýNIRMSÌýor non-NIRMsÌý

You must follow the relevant rules that non-NIRMSÌýgoods are moving under.

What to include in theÌýNIRMSÌýpacking listÌýÌý

Add the following information about the product to the packing list. You do not need to include information about the packaging.

Description of the retail goodsÌý

You must add a clear description of the retail goods. The description needs to match the product name that appears on the product packaging, where possible.ÌýÌý

You must make the description clear enough that an inspector can look at the packing list to identify the product and the product category.

For example, ‘own-brand chicken nuggets (12 pack)’ or ‘loose gala apples’.ÌýÌý

Nature of product

You must describe how the product is stored. For example, ambient, chilled or frozen.Ìý

Food contact materials

Check if your product is aÌý.

If your product is a food contact material, you must add ‘FCM’ for the nature of product.

If your packaging is made of food contact material, you do not need to add ‘FCM’. You must add the nature of the product itself.ÌýÌý

Type of treatmentÌý

You must add ‘processed’ if any action has been taken that substantially changes the original product. If no treatment has been applied to the goods, you must add ‘raw’ or ‘unprocessed’.Ìý

Establishment of dispatch in Great Britain

Add the Retail Movement Scheme number of the establishment in Great Britain that the goods are being dispatched from. For example, RMS-GB-000000-999.

You must only add one Retail Movement Scheme number.  Ìý

Number of packagesÌý

Add how many packages of each product there are, in numbers. A package could be a box, crate or pallet.ÌýÌý

Net weightÌý

In the header of the net weight column, indicate that the weight is in kilograms by using ‘kg’.

Then, give the total net weight for each product on the packing list in kilograms. For example, if you are moving 6 boxes of biscuits, you need to add the net weight of all 6 boxes together.ÌýÌý

Country of originÌý

You must add the country of origin to the packing list in the form of anÌý, including for products that are food contact materials. Use the two-digit ISO code.

You do not need to add the country of origin for:ÌýÌý

• products that do not move under sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules and are listed under in the products that do not need country of origin section
• non-NIRMSÌý±è°ù´Ç»å³Ü³¦³Ù²õ

If there is no country of origin, add ‘X’.

The requirements for theÌýrules of originÌýare different for customs purposes.Ìý

Products that do not need country of originÌý

You do not need to add the country of origin for shelf stable composite products such as:ÌýÌý

• bread, cakes, biscuits, waffles and wafers, rusks, toasted bread and similar toasted products, chips and crispsÌýÌý
• confectionery including sweets, white chocolate not containing cocoa, chocolate and other food preparations, spreads, and preparations for making drinks containing cocoaÌýÌý
• extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee, tea or maté and preparations with a basis of any of these productsÌýÌý
• food supplements that are packaged for the final consumer and are produced from a mix of plant and processed animal products, or are wholly made of plant productsÌýÌý
• liqueurs and cordialsÌý
• olives stuffed with fishÌýÌý
• pasta, noodles and couscous (excluding those mixed or filled with meat products, for example, meat-filled pasta)
• prepared foods made by swelling or roasting cereals or cereal productsÌý
• prepared foods made from unroasted cereal flakes or from mixtures of unroasted cereal flakes and roasted cereal flakes
• roasted chicory and other roasted coffee substitutes, including extracts, essences and concentrates of these productsÌýÌý
• soup stocks and flavourings packaged for the final consumer

You do not need to add the country of origin for:Ìý

• beer and ciderÌýÌý
• ³¦±ð°ù±ð²¹±ô²õÌýÌý
• dried herbs and spicesÌýÌý
• ´Ú±ô²¹±¹´Ç³Ü°ù¾±²Ô²µ²õÌýÌý
• flour
• frozen chipsÌýÌý
• frozen peasÌýÌý
• Âá²¹³¾ÌýÌý
• jars of pasta sauceÌýÌý
• maple syrup and other syrups
• natural sugarÌýÌýÌýÌý
• nuts and seedsÌýÌý
• olive oilÌýÌý
• peanut butterÌýÌý
• plant-based milks such as oat, almond and soy milkÌýÌý
• popcorn, crackers and crispsÌýÌý
• processed or canned fruit and vegetables (including fruit juices)ÌýÌýÌý
• °ù¾±³¦±ðÌýÌý
• soft drinksÌýÌý
• spring water, mineral water and other bottled watersÌýÌý
• tea bags, dried tea leaves and coffeeÌýÌý
• tomato ketchup or other fruit and vegetable condimentsÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
• tomato soupÌýÌý
• ±¹¾±²Ô±ð²µ²¹°ùÌýÌý
• ·É¾±²Ô±ðÌýÌý

You do not need to add the country of origin for deregulated fruits, such as:Ìý

• ²ú²¹²Ô²¹²Ô²¹²õÌýÌý
• ³¦´Ç³¦´Ç²Ô³Ü³Ù²õÌýÌý
• »å²¹³Ù±ð²õÌýÌý
• »å³Ü°ù¾±²¹²Ô²õÌýÌý
• ±è¾±²Ô±ð²¹±è±è±ô±ð²õÌýÌý

However, you do need to add the country of origin for the above products when they are from specific countries that are subject to high-risk food controls. For example:

• rice originating from India or Pakistan
• tea originating from China
• peanuts (groundnuts) such as those originating from the United States of America

Refer to for an updated list of products and countries that are subject to controls.

Country of origin for products of animal origin (POAO) and plant productsÌý

¹ó´Ç°ùÌýPOAOÌýand plant products moving underÌýNIRMS, add the country of origin as:Ìý

• ‘GB’ for products produced and packaged in Great BritainÌý
• ‘GB’ for products that are produced in rest of world countries but processed and packaged in Great BritainÌý
• the EU country for products produced and packaged in an EU ³¦´Ç³Ü²Ô³Ù°ù²âÌý
• the EU country for products that are produced in countries in the rest of the world and then processed and packaged in the EU, or imported into the EUÌý
• the rest of the world country for products that are produced and packaged in a country outside of Great Britain and the EUÌý

Definition of processing for POAO

ForÌý±è°ù´Ç»å³Ü³¦³Ù²õ of animal origin (POAO), ‘processed’ means processing that substantially changes the initial product. For example, this could be by:

• heating
• smoking
• curing
• maturing
• drying
• marinating
• extraction
• extrusion
• a combination of these processes

Slicing, dividing, mincing, boning, grating or repackaging of animal products is not defined as ‘processed’ forÌýPOAO.Ìý

Definition of processing for plant products

For plant products, ‘processed’ means that the initial product has been changed. This could be by peeling, slicing, heating or using other manufacturing practices.ÌýÌý

Multiple countries of originÌýÌý

If a processedÌýPOAOÌýcontains products from multiple countries, the country of origin would be the country in which it is processed into a single product.Ìý

If your unprocessedÌýPOAOÌýcomes from multiple countries of origin, like unprocessed minced beef from multiple countries, add all of the countries of origin separated by commas.ÌýÌý

For fresh fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and foliage from multiple countries, add all of the relevant countries of origin separated by commas.Ìý

Goods from the rest of the world

You must make a declaration on the additional document. This must state that goods from the rest of the world that need to haveÌýSPSÌýchecks have either:ÌýÌý

• passed SPS checks at an EU border control postÌý
• are products where the UK is taking the same approach as the EU to protect against similar pests and diseasesÌý

The competent authorities may ask you to provide evidence of this later.  Ìý

Products where the UK is taking the same approach as the EU

The UK follows the same approach as the EU for some products to protect against similar pests and diseases. These products have the same SPS controls when entering Great Britain and the EU.

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following meat products:

• fresh, chilled or frozen New Zealand lamb
• chilled or frozen poultry meat products from Thailand and China
• pet food and dog chewsÌý

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following fresh vegetables:

• asparagusÌý
• beans
• broccoli
• cauliflowers
• garlic
• onions
• peas
• peppers
• pumpkins
• shallots
• squash and gourds
• sweetcorn
• sweet potatoes

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following fresh fruit:

• apples
• avocados
• blackberries
• blueberries
• cranberries
• dragon fruit
• figs
• gingerÌý
• grapes
• loganberries
• lychee
• melons
• mulberries
• pears
• raspberries
• strawberries
• tomatoes
• watermelons

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following cut flowers:

• alstroemeria
• brassica    Ìý
• chrysanthemum
• carnations
• gypsophila
• lilies
• protea
• sunflowers
• tulips

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following cut herbs:

• basil
• coriander
• cut chives
• dill
• lemongrass
• mint
• parsley
• rosemary
• sage
• tarragon
• thyme
• turmeric

Commodity codes

You can addÌýcommodity codes or tariff codes (which have 8 numbers) to the packing list, but you do not have to. Tariff codes, which are also known as harmonized system codes, are used by customs authorities around the world.ÌýÌý

ÌýAfter you have completed the general certificate and additional document

Once you have completed and submitted the general certificate, you need to upload the additional document (packing list) and confirm that the consignment meets the scheme rules.

You’ll be able to view the status of your application in the export health certificate online portal.ÌýÌý

The recipient in Northern Ireland needs to notify the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) of the incoming goods:ÌýÌý

• before the consignment enters the port of departureÌýin Great Britain
• at least 4 hours before the consignment arrives in Northern IrelandÌýÌý

You do this by submitting aÌýCHEDÌýand attaching the general certificate and packing list.Ìý

There is a clone feature in DAERA’sÌýCHOPÌýsystem, which helps you to fill out theÌýCHEDÌýwith the information you have given on the general certificate.Ìý

Sealing consignmentsÌýÌý

The responsible person listed under the scheme must supervise the sealing of each consignment with a seal.

Traders can buy seals, but they must meet theÌýUK standards for customs seals.

The seal must have a unique identifier with an associated number. You must include the seal number in the general certificate for that consignment.Ìý

Your consignment may be delayed if:Ìý

• you do not apply the seal correctlyÌý
• the seal number does not match the number on the general certificateÌý

Sealing mixed consignmentsÌýÌý

Vehicles or loads that contain a mix of goods moved underÌýNIRMSÌýand goods moved under official controls regulations will need to meet the sealing requirements for both routes.

Find outÌýhow to move mixed consignments.

ChannellingÌýÌý

The establishment in Northern Ireland must tell DAERA within 48 hours of the goods arriving at their establishment through theÌýCHOPÌýsystem. They must include a photograph of the unbroken seal.

DAERA will complete any channelling procedures.

ComplianceÌýÌý

Document checksÌýÌý

DAERA will complete document checks on the general certificate andÌýCHEDÌýusing theÌýCHEDÌýInspection Platform.Ìý

The competent authorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland may ask you to provide additional evidence to show that the goods you are moving underÌýNIRMSÌýmeet the requirements.

For example, they may ask you for documents to show that goods originating from countries in the rest of world have successfully passed checks at an EU border control post.

You must provide a validatedÌýCHEDÌýfrom the EU border control post and the related export health certificate within 72 hours.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Physical checksÌýÌý

There will be no routine or set physical checks.

Interventions will be based only on risk and intelligence decisions made by competent authorities to deal with:

• smuggling
• criminality
• abuse
• specific risks to animal, plant or public healthÌý

Identity checksÌýÌý

DAERA inspectors at Northern Ireland points of entry will make a decision on whether any identity procedures are required.

DAERA will do identity checks on 10% ofÌýNIRMSÌýconsignments, based on risk and intelligence. These goods can only be sold in aÌýNIRMSÌýlisted establishment in Northern Ireland.ÌýÌý

DAERA will email operators that are responsible for the consignment to tell them if their consignment has been selected for inspection.

If drivers are using the goods vehicle movement service, they shouldÌýcheck if you need to report for an inspectionÌýto see if their goods are held.