Posting queens from NI to GB

There has been considerable speculation around changes in regulations post Brexit, on social media and elsewhere.
The regulations with regard to Northern Ireland are covered by an agreement known as the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The current regulations, as of 22nd January 2021, are as follows:

The Northern Ireland Protocol sets the principle of unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to Great Britain. Northern Ireland businesses may export to Great Britain under the same bee health conditions in place prior to the end of the transition period. This means that NI beekeepers may continue to export packages and colonies to the UK. There will be no border checks on consignments despatched from Northern Ireland.

This is stated on the National Bee Unit website in the document, Guidance notes for Importers (Page 9)

In addition, there are no extra charges for customers

‘If you move qualifying Northern Ireland goods

If you move qualifying Northern Ireland goods directly from Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK there’ll be no changes and no new customs processes for almost all traders, with some very limited exceptions. For example, goods falling within the very limited number of procedures relating to specific international obligations binding on the UK and the EU – such as obligations on the movement of endangered species.

That means, for almost all traders, when your goods leave Northern Ireland for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), there’ll be:

  • no export declaration
  • no exit summary declaration
  • no import declaration on arrival in Great Britain
  • no customs duties to pay
  • no VAT to pay at point of arrival
  • no changes to how your goods arrive at ports in Great Britain

You cannot move goods through Northern Ireland to avoid the UK tariff or import processes. You may receive penalties if you move goods through Northern Ireland for an avoidance purpose.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-qualifying-goods-from-northern-ireland-to-the-rest-of-the-uk#qualifying


About Jonathan Getty

Jonathan Getty is a former chair of Belfast & District branch of the Ulster Beekeepers Association which has over 250 members and is a current committee member. He is at least a fourth generation beekeeper in the Getty family. His main beekeeping interest is queen rearing based on our native bee Apis mellifera mellifera. He started up the Belfast Minnowburn queenrearing group in 2012 and is currently involved with a new queenrearing group in Co. Tyrone which started up in 2020. He manages over 100 colonies of his own spread over about a dozen apiary sites in NI. He also rears between 400-500 queens per season using 200 Apideas. Jonathan holds a BSc Hons in Psychology from Queens University Belfast and gained a postgraduate teaching qualification at Stranmillis Training College. He is a fluent Spanish speaker.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to Posting queens from NI to GB

  1. John Postle says:

    Thank you. Good news and a happy outcome.
    I look forward to hearing from you later this year.
    Best wishes.

  2. Steven Lintern says:

    Common sense in this day and age, who would have thought it.
    Good news, Jon. Thanks for clarifying.

  3. Peter Rogers says:

    Great news Jon ,

    Will be in touch with an order for later in the year.

    Many thanks doe getting that clarified .

    Peter

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *