The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) is a new way to move prepacked retail goods such as food, drink, cut flowers and pet food from GB into NI. You can find out more about NIRMS on NICTA.
The scheme started on 1 October 2023, replacing the existing Scheme for Temporary Agrifood Movements into Northern Ireland (STAMNI).
Under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) some food products need individual product labels with the words ‘Not for EU’. These requirements will be brought in through three phases from October 2023 to July 2025.
Phase 1
Phase 1 started on 1 October 2023. From 1 October 2023 all meat products and some dairy products moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland need to be individually labelled. The full list of commodity codes included in phase 1 is available on GOV.UK.
In the first phase, only products moving into Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme need to meet the labelling requirements.
Meat products
Since 1 October 2023, individual labels are required on all prepacked meat, prepacked meat products and meat packed on sales premises.
Compound products are included if they contain one or more of the products in the phase 1 list, for example a chicken kiev or a cheeseburger. You can find out how to identify compound products on GOV.UK.
Phase 1 does not include composite products, for example lasagne, pork pies or pepperoni pizza.
Dairy products
Some dairy products are included in the phase 1 labelling requirements, including:
- pasteurised milk, buttermilk or cream products
- cottage cheese, quark cheese or raw (unprocessed) cheese, of any animal origin
- crème fraiche and sour cream
Box labels
Since 1 October 2023, where products are not individually labelled with the words ‘Not for EU’, you now need to label the box or crate.
Labelling for retailer premises in NI
Where products are not individually labelled, retail premises must make it visible in store that these goods are not to be sold in the EU. These requirements apply to all retail establishments in NI.
Retail premises must also display posters in their stores, so customers are aware that goods moved under this scheme are intended for consumption in the UK and are not to be sold or consumed in the EU.