Moving goods from NI to GB - Unfettered Market Access (UMA) and Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods (QNIG) 20th February 2024
The new food and feed definition for qualifying Northern Ireland goods (QNIG) came into force 20th February 2024.
Food and animal feed dispatched from an approved or registered establishment in NI will be considered QNIG and will continue to have unfettered access to GB, whether it moves directly from NI to GB or indirectly via Ireland to GB. This will also apply to goods transiting GB land bridge to enter EU mainland.
The dispatching food establishment in NI must be approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or the relevant District Council. Dispatching animal feed establishments in NI must be registered or approved by DAERA.
All QNIG goods must be under the control of the NI approved or registered business at their point of dispatch from NI and must be accompanied by evidence, such as commercial documentation, showing the start of the journey in NI.
Defra guidance relating to the movement of food and feed from Northern Ireland to Great Britain (GB) can be found on GOV.UK.