Written answers

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Brexit Issues

Photo of Verona MurphyVerona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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395. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress with the UK Government regarding the UK customs preparations for Brexit. [26652/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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From 1 January 2021, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing negotiations, the UK will no longer be part of the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. This means any business that moves goods from, to or through Great Britain will be subject to a range of new customs formalities, checks and other regulatory requirements, that do not apply in any form today to such trade.

However, it is important to note that due to the provisions in the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland no new checks or controls will apply to goods moving between Ireland and Northern Ireland in either direction.

From 1 January 2021 UK customs preparations are a matter for the UK Government. On 13 July 2020, the UK Government published its Border Operating Model, outlining plans for the introduction of border controls on exports to Great Britain from the EU. These plans indicate that UK controls will be implemented in three phases, from 1 January 2021 and with full controls implemented by July 2021. I understand an update of the Border Operations Model will issue shortly.

The Government continues to monitor the progress of the UK's customs preparations for the end of the transition period. Our Embassy in London maintains ongoing contact at various levels with officials from the UK Government on customs matters, including in relation to goods moving in transit via the UK landbridge. This includes ongoing engagement with officials from the Border Protocol and Delivery Group at the Cabinet Office, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). In addition, Embassy officials have visited a number of points of entry and exit to the UK to review UK preparations on the ground.

It is important that businesses trading with Great Britain, or using the landbridge across Great Britain, make themselves aware of their responsibilities in relation to UK customs and regulatory checks and controls.

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