Goods journey under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) in TSS

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Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) Overview

What is NIRMS?

The NIRMS is a new scheme introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that allows the movement of Great Britain (GB) origin retail goods for final consumers such as food, food contact materials, pet food, Northern Ireland (NI) products processed in GB and European Union (EU) origin products. Users of the scheme will benefit from simplified arrangements.

The NIRMS started on 1 October 2023. To benefit from the scheme, any business sending goods to NI, or receiving goods from GB that will be sold to the final consumer in NI, needs to be registered for the scheme.

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Steps you need to take before signing up to the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS)

There are steps you need to take before you can sign up for NIRMS. These steps will differ according to your role within the movement of goods

If you are a Consignor

• Create a Defra Government Gateway account
• Create a Defra account
• Register for the Export Health Certificate online system
• Register for TRACES NT (based on commercial agreement between Consignor and Consignee)
• Obtain a Food Business Operator number

If you are a Consignee

• Register for TRACES NT (based on commercial agreement between Consignor and Consignee)
• Register for the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) Operator Portal (CHOP)

If you are Responsible for Load (RFL)

• NOTE: The RFL may be the Consignee or a different business acting as an Agent
• Register for TRACES NT as an Operator to be able to produce a CHED

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Steps you need to take once you are authorised for NIRMS

There are steps you need to take once you are authorised for NIRMS. These steps will differ according to your role within the movement of goods

If you are a Consignor (GB Sender)

• Complete the General Certificate (GC)
• Create a consignment packing list (PL)
• Seal the consignment
• Send the GC and PL to the NI receiver (who may also be the Consignee)
• Notify the haulier of goods movements

If you are a Consignee (NI Receiver)

• Submit a photograph of the seal and channelling via CHOP

If you are a Haulier

• Seal the consignment (if instructed)
• Create a Goods Movement Reference (GMR) and monitor for inspection
• Attend a DAERA inspection facility (if required)

If you are Responsible for Load (who may also be the Consignee)

• Submit a Common Health Entry Document (CHED) in TRACES NT

If you require further assistance, please contact the TSS Contact Centre on 0800 060 8888