The Brexit may sound like a thing of the past, but on the contrary. TLN still regularly receives and shares news from the United Kingdom about changed regulations of interest to the transport and logistics industry, such as the Northern Ireland Protocol or the BAR regulations.
Ireland
An agreement was recently reached with the European Union on important changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol. This keeps Northern Ireland within the UK single market for EU goods. As a result, the Irish land border is open, but products arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are subject to checks and paperwork. The new deal is designed to significantly reduce the number of checks.
To give businesses and individuals time to prepare, implementation of the new deal will be phased in. Some of the new schemes for goods, agrifood, pets and plants will be introduced later this year and the rest in 2024. In the meantime, the current temporary standstill arrangements continue to apply.
Transition period
Since Feb. 1, 2020, the transition period has begun. The British no longer have a say in EU bodies, but remain part of the European single market, customs union and various partnerships. In the coming months, the trade agreement will be negotiated between the European Union and the UK. The UK wants the freedom to deviate from European standards. In contrast, the EU only wants to allow zero tariffs and quota-free access to the single market if the British comply with European rules on environmental standards and state aid rules.
The transition period runs until Dec. 31, 2020, and can be extended once for two years by mutual agreement between Brussels and London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already indicated he wants absolutely no extension of the transition period.
BAR Scheme
The BAR Reimbursement for outstanding costs has been closed for some time and the RFO is busy assessing applications. The deadline for the Allowance of Expenses incurred closes at 5 p.m. on March 31, 2023. Submit your application while you still can.
You can read more information on the website https://www.getreadyforbrexit.eu/.
