Marketing standards

European Union marketing standards for agri-food products establish definitions, minimum product standards, production methods, sales descriptions, product categories and labelling requirements. They apply at all stages of the marketing chain and are intended to protect consumers and to facilitate the trade of applicable goods on the single market.

Products subject to marketing standards regulations include fruit and vegetables, hops, wine, beef and veal, eggs in shell, hatching eggs and chicks, olive oil, poultrymeat and milk and spreadable fats.

Under Annex 2 of the Windsor Framework, EU food law, including marketing standards, continues to apply to all food produced in Northern Ireland. These marketing standards are set out primarily in Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, commonly referred to as the Common Market Organisation Regulation, and associated delegated and implementing regulations.

DAERA is responsible for marketing standards in Northern Ireland, except for milk and spreadable fats, which are the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland (FSANI). The FSANI is also responsible for general food labelling.

Marketing standards in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework

Under the Windsor Framework, EU food law, including marketing standards, continues to apply to all food produced in Northern Ireland. EU food law also continues to apply to food sold in Northern Ireland that has not moved from GB to NI through the NI Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS).

Movement of products subject to marketing standards under the Windsor Framework:

• There are no changes to marketing standards requirements for products moving from Northern Ireland to GB.
• There are no changes to marketing standards requirements for products moving from Northern Ireland to the EU, and vice versa.
• Retail agri-food products moving from GB to NI through the NI Retail Movement Scheme must meet GB marketing standards regulations and other terms of the Scheme.
• Products not destined for sale to the final consumer, or agri-food products moving from GB to NI outside of the NI Retail Movement Scheme, must continue to meet EU marketing standards regulations and may be subject to certification or checking requirements at NI SPS Inspection Facilities.

You can find guidance for individual commodities subject to marketing standards via the gov.uk links below:

• fresh fruit and vegetables
• poultry meat
• eggs
• hatching eggs and chicks
• beef and veal
• hops and hops products
• wine

Information on the NI Retail Movement Scheme 

Information and advice on moving goods under the Windsor Framework's NI Retail Movement Scheme is available here:

• The Windsor Framework - further detail and publications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

DAERA's main EU exit landing page is available here:

• EU Exit landing page | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)

DAERA marketing standards contact