Retail Movement Scheme labelling requirements

Under the Windsor Framework there will be new labelling requirements for goods of plant and animal origin that are subject to SPS requirements.

Under the Windsor Framework there will be new labelling requirements for goods of plant and animal origin that are subject to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Requirements, that are entering the Northern Ireland market under the Retail Movement Scheme. These requirements will be introduced on a phased basis between October 2023 and July 2025.

Phase 1- October 2023

From 1 October 2023 all meat and dairy products moved from GB to Northern Ireland will need to be individually labelled with the words "Not for EU". A breakdown of products included under phase 1 can be found via the following GOV.UK link: List of commodity codes that need individual labels in phase 1 under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

Phase 2 - October 2024

From 1 October 2024 all milk and dairy products entering Northern Ireland under the Retail Movement Scheme requires individual labelling.

Phase 3 – July 2025

From 1 July 2025 composite products, fruit, vegetables, and fish will require individual labelling.

Are there any exceptions to the new labelling requirements?

There are several exceptions to the above rules on individual labelling, these include:

1. Products sold loose or by weight on the sales premises at the consumer’s request.
2. Products processed and sold on the sales premises by a retailer, for direct consumption.
3. Products for sale in a canteen, restaurant, or other similar where food is intended for eating on the spot in Northern Ireland.

In addition to the above there are also exceptions for:

1. Shelf-Stable composite products such as confectionary, pasta, liqueurs, and cordials.
2. Products which meet UK health standards which don’t require certification at agri-food points of entry such as canned fruit and vegetables, nuts, and tomato ketchup.

Box Labels

From 1 October 2023, if a product is not subject to individual labelling, there will be a requirement for labelling on the box/crate/packaging.

Following phase 2 and phase 3, products which become subject to individual labelling will no longer be subject to box/crate labelling.

Will there be any assistance to help with adoption of the new requirements?

There will be a 30-day transition period following the beginning of each phase to allow goods already on the market in Northern Ireland to be sold. Following the end of the transition period all labelling requirements will need to be met.

Further Information

For further information about the labelling requirements under the Retail Movement Scheme please see the following GOV.UK guidance about Labelling requirements for certain products moving from Great Britain to retail premises in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

Article Reviewed: August 2023