All businesses responsible for moving or selling food for final consumption in Northern Ireland can register.now register for the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS).

This includes:includes: 

• retailers selling finished goods to end consumersconsumers 

• hospitality venues in Northern IrelandIreland, such as pubs and restaurantsrestaurants, who are bringing goods in directly from Great Britain directly

• businesses that provide food to the public sector like schools, hospitals and prisonsprisons 

• wholesalers supplying retail outletsoutlets 

• businesses operating factory canteenscanteens 

WhatBefore you willregister 

Check needwhich beforeproducts youcan registermove under NIRMS. 

Before you register,register for NIRMS, you will need to register for:for: 

• a

  a Government Gateway account account 

• Exportexport Healthhealth Certificatecertificate Onlineonline (EHC Online) 

• a

  a food Foodbusiness Business Operatoroperator (FBO)number or a Plant Health Registration number if you export cut flowers, cut Christmas trees and wreaths 

• a

  a TRACES NT account account 

If you are a business that only exports pet food, and you cannot get a food business operator number, enter the approval number of the registered animal by-product business as a food business operator number instead. If you are not able to enter some special characters, such as a forward slash or a space, replace them with a hyphen.   

If you are a business based in Northern Ireland, you will also need to register for:

• for the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) Operators Portal (CHOP)

 (CHOP).

You may also be eligible for the the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) for for customs purposes.purposes. 

DuringWhen registration,you tradersregister, willyou’ll need to provide details of all the establishments foryou dispatch or receipt ofreceive goods at under the schemescheme. andYou’ll also need to confirm that they are registered food business operators (FBO) in the UK.

The business sending the consignment in Great Britain and the business receiving the consignment in Northern Ireland need to be registered for the scheme.scheme. 

Traders will need to agree to the terms and conditions of the scheme. If the application is successful, they will receive email confirmation with with:

• a Scheme Membershipscheme membership Numbernumber for their business
• establishment andnumbers Establishmentfor Numbersall forof all establishmentstheir sendingestablishments which send or receivingreceive goods.​
  goods​ 

TheCompleting Generalthe Certificategeneral certificate 

OnceAfter registeredyou onhave theregistered Northernfor IrelandNIRMS, Retailyou’ll Movement Scheme, members will be able to complete the Generalgeneral Certificatecertificate through EHCthe Online,export usinghealth acertificate linkonline provided to them following sign up to the scheme. service. 

A Generalgeneral Certificatecertificate will have ana unique number,number. andYou willneed bea requiredgeneral certificate for each consignment of goods moving under the scheme.scheme. 

TheTo requiredcomplete fieldsthe ingeneral thecertificate, Generalyou’ll Certificateneed are:to include the: 

• consignor

  name and consigneeaddress detailsfor (namethe consignor and address)consignee

• details of the operator responsible details

• place of dispatch and destination details

• means of transport

• point andof proposedentry 

• seal pointnumbers 

Completing an additional document for NIRMS goods  

You must complete an additional document (often a form of entrypacking list) that must include all of the following information: 

• a description of the retail goods   

• seal

  the numbersnature of the products  

• the type of treatment that has been applied to the product, for example if it is raw or if it has been processed

• the Retail Movement Scheme number of the place they are being dispatched from in Great Britain  

• the number of packages 

• the net weight 

• the country of origin, for some products  

• a declaration that any goods from the rest of the world in the consignment covered by this document have passed checks or been through an EU border control post, where necessary

You willcan also add the commodity code to the packing list, but you do not have to.

You need to provide aone additional document for each general certificate, which covers all of the NIRMS products. The packing list withcannot cover 2 general certificates.  

In the future, APHA will introduce a digital update to NIRMS that will embed the general certificate reference into your Generaladditional Certificate.document. ManyThis businessesguidance routinelywill providedbe suchupdated when this change is made. You can sign up for updates to this page.

Non-NIRMS goods and the packing list  

Non-NIRMS goods are goods that are not moving under NIRMS. For example, goods that are moving under:

• Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) rules
• official control regulation rules
• general import rules

If you are moving NIRMS and non-NIRMS goods together, you do not need to complete a full packing list underfor the STAMNInon-NIRMS arrangements,goods. includingYou throughonly lorryneed manifests.to Thereadd a short product description for non-NIRMS goods and mark them as ‘non-NIRMS’. It is nooptional prescribedto formatadd the country of origin.

You can complete a packing list for non-NIRMS products if you want to. You must clearly separate non-NIRMS goods on the packing lists,list. butFor example, you can separate non-NIRMS products by creating a:  

• separate tab on the spreadsheet  

• separate table on the document  

• separate column that states if the goods are NIRMS or non-NIRMs 

You must follow the relevant rules that non-NIRMS goods are moving under.

What to include in the NIRMS packing listslist  

Add the following information about the product to the packing list.

You do not need to include information about the packaging.

Description of the retail goods 

You must containadd descriptionsa clear description of the retail goodsgoods. The description needs to match the product name that appears on the product packaging, where possible.  

You must make the description clear enough that an inspector can look at the packing list to identify the product and the product category.

For example, ‘own-brand chicken nuggets (12 pack)’ or ‘loose gala apples’.  

Nature of product

You must describe how the product is stored, for example ambient, chilled or frozen. 

Food contact materials

Check if your product is a food contact material.

If your product is a food contact material, you must add ‘FCM’ for the nature of theirproduct.

If products,your including:packaging is made of food contact material, you do not need to add ‘FCM’. You must add the nature of the product itself.  

Type of treatment 

You must add ‘processed’ if any action has been taken that substantially changes the original product. If no treatment has been applied to the goods, you must add ‘raw’ or ‘unprocessed’.  

The establishment of dispatch in Great Britain

Add the Retail Movement Scheme number of the establishment in Great Britain that the goods are being dispatched from. For example, RMS-GB-000000-999.

You must only add one Retail Movement Scheme number.   

Number of packages 

Add how many packages of each product there are, in numbers. A package could be a box, crate or pallet.  

 Net weight 

Give the total net weight for each product on the packing list in kilograms.

For example, if you are moving 6 boxes of biscuits, you need to add the net weight of all 6 boxes together.  

Country of origin 

You must add the country of origin to the packing list in the form of an International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) code, including for products that are food contact materials.

You do not need to add the country of origin for:  

• theproducts descriptionthat ofdo not move under sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules and are listed under in the retailproducts goodsthat do not need country of origin section

• naturenon-NIRMS products

The requirements for the rules of origin are different for customs purposes. 

Products that do not need country of origin 

You do not need to add the country of origin for shelf stable composite products like:  

• confectionery including sweets, white chocolate not containing cocoa, chocolate and other food preparations, spreads, and preparations for making drinks containing cocoa  

• typepasta, noodles and couscous — excluding those mixed or filled with meat products, for example, meat-filled pasta

• prepared foods made by swelling or roasting cereals or cereal products 

• prepared foods made from unroasted cereal flakes or from mixtures of treatmentunroasted cereal flakes and roasted cereal flakes

• registrationbread, cakes, biscuits, waffles and wafers, rusks, toasted bread and similar toasted products, chips and crisps  

• olives stuffed with fish  

• extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee, tea or approvalmaté numberand preparations with a basis of any of these products  

• roasted chicory and other roasted coffee substitutes, including extracts, essences and concentrates of these products  

• soup stocks and flavourings packaged for the relevantfinal establishmentconsumer

• numberfood supplements that are packaged for the final consumer and contain small (in total less than 20%) amounts of packagesanimal products or glucosamine, chondroitin or chitosan  

• netliqueurs weightand cordials 

OnceYou youdo havenot completedneed andto submittedadd the Generalcountry Certificateof origin for : 

• processed or canned fruit and confirmedvegetables that(including thefruit consignmentjuices)        

• frozen meetspeas  

• dried theherbs schemeand conditions,spices  

• flavourings  

• plant-based youmilks willsuch beas ableoat, almond and soy milk  

• jam  

• peanut butter  

• maple syrup and other syrups  

• olive oil  

• vinegar  

• tomato ketchup or other fruit and vegetable condiments  

• jars of pasta sauce  

• nuts and seeds  

• popcorn, crackers and crisps  

• tomato soup  

• frozen chips  

• tea bags, dried tea leaves and coffee  

• cereals  

• flour  

• rice  

• natural sugar  

• wine  

• soft drinks  

• beer and cider   

• spring water, mineral water and other bottled waters  

You do not need to viewadd the statuscountry of yourorigin applicationfor inderegulated fruits, such as: 

• pineapples  

• bananas  

• coconuts  

• dates  

• durians  

Country of origin for products of animal origin (POAO) and plant products 

For POAO and plant products moving under NIRMS, add the EHCcountry Onlineof portal.origin as: 

• In‘GB’ linefor withproducts produced and packaged in Great Britain 

• ‘GB’ for products that are produced in rest of world countries but processed and packaged in Great Britain 

• the existingEU STAMNIcountry process,for products produced and packaged in an EU country 

• the NorthernEU Irelandcountry recipientfor willproducts thenthat needare toproduced notifyin DAERAcountries in the rest of the incomingworld goodsand bythen submittingprocessed aand Commonpackaged Healthin Entrythe DocumentEU, (CHED),or attachingimported into the GeneralEU 

• the Certificaterest of the world country for products that are produced and packingpackaged listin ata leastcountry 4outside hoursof priorGreat toBritain and the arrivalEU 

Definition of processing for POAO 

For POAO, ‘processed’ means processing that substantially changes the consignmentinitial inproduct.

This Northerncould Ireland.be by:

Sealing

• heating
• smoking
• curing
• maturing
• drying
• marinating
• extraction
• extrusion
• a consignments

combination of these processes

AllThis consignmentsis mustnot a complete list.

Slicing, grating or repackaging of animal products is not defined as ‘processed’ for POAO. 

Definition of processing for plant products 

For plant products, ‘processed’ means that the initial product has been changed.  This could be sealedby withpeeling, anslicing, authorisedheating sealor withusing appropriateother supervision.manufacturing Thepractices. 

Multiple sealcountry mustof haveorigins  

If a uniqueprocessed identifierPOAO withcontains associatedproducts number,from andmultiple countries, the numbercountry mustof origin would be includedthe country in which it is processed into a single product. 

If your unprocessed POAO comes from multiple countries of origin, like unprocessed minced beef from multiple countries, add all of the Generalcountry Certificate.of DAERAorigins willseparated record,by checkcommas.  

For fresh fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and reconcilefoliage from multiple countries, add all of the sealsrelevant incountries lineof withorigin separated by commas. 

Goods from the requirementsrest of the scheme.world

You DEFRAmust willmake worka withdeclaration traderson tothe alsoadditional exploredocument alternativewhich meansstates that goods from the rest of the world that need to meethave schemeSPS requirementschecks ineither:  

• passed checks at an EU border control post 

• are products where the future,UK includingis throughtaking digitalthe solutionssame suchapproach as electronicthe seals.EU to protect against similar pests and diseases 

ForThe mixedcompetent loadsauthority lookmay ask you to provide evidence of this at a later time.   

Products where the guidanceUK onis mixedtaking loadthe consignmentssame approach as the EU

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following meat products: 

• fresh, chilled or frozen New Zealand lamb
• pet food and dog chews 

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following fresh vegetables: 

• onions
• shallots
• garlic
• cauliflowers
• broccoli
• peas
• beans
• peppers
• pumpkins
• squash and gourds
• sweetcorn
• sweet potatoes
• asparagus 

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following fresh fruit:

• tomatoes
• avocados
• grapes
• melons
• watermelons
• apples
• pears
• strawberries
• raspberries
• blackberries
• mulberries
• loganberries
• blueberries
• cranberries
• lychee
• dragon fruit
• figs 
• ginger 

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following cut flowers:

• chrysanthemum
• lilies
• carnations
• alstroemeria
• tulips
• sunflowers
• gypsophila
• protea
• brassica     

The UK is taking the same approach as the EU for the following cut herbs:

• cut chives
• lemongrass
• tarragon
• parsley
• dill
• thyme
• mint
• coriander
• rosemary
• turmeric
• sage
• basil

Commodity codes

You can add commodity codes or tariff codes (which are 8 numbers.) to the packing list, but you do not have to. Tariff codes, which are also known as harmonized system codes, are used by customs authorities around the world.  

Channelling After you have completed the general certificate and the additional document 

InOnce lineyou withhave completed and submitted the existinggeneral processescertificate, underyou STAMNI,will need to upload the additional document (packing list) and confirm that the consignment meets the scheme rules.

You’ll be able to view the status of your application in the export health certificate online portal.  

 The recipient in Northern Ireland destinationneeds establishmentto mustnotify inform DAERA of the arrivalincoming ofgoods:  

• before the goodsconsignment enters the port of departure in Great Britain

• at least 4 hours before the consignment arrives in Northern IrelandIreland  

You listeddo establishment,this viaby submitting a CHED and attaching the general certificate and packing list. 

There is a clone feature in DAERA’s CHOP system, withinthat 48helps hours.you to fill out the CHED with the information you have given on the general certificate. 

Sealing consignments  

DAERAThe willresponsible completeperson anylisted channellingunder proceduresthe andscheme willmust followsupervise upthe bysealing emailof ifeach necessary.consignment with a seal.

ThereTraders willcan bebuy noseals, routinebut orthey setmust physicalmeet checks,the andUK interventionsstandards willfor customs seals.

The seal must have a unique identifier with an associated number. You must include the seal number in the general certificate for that consignment. 

Your consignment may be baseddelayed onlyif: 

• you do not apply the seal correctly 

• the seal number does not match the number on riskthe general certificate 

Sealing mixed consignments  

Vehicles or loads that contain a mix of goods moved under NIRMS and intelligencegoods decisionsmoved madeunder byofficial UKcontrols authorities,regulations will need to dealmeet withthe smuggling,sealing criminality,requirements abusefor orboth specificroutes.

Find risksout how to animal,move plantmixed orconsignments.

Channelling  

The publicestablishment health.in Northern Ireland must tell DAERA within 48 hours of the goods arriving at their establishment, through the CHOP system and include a photograph of the unbroken seal. DAERA will complete any channelling procedures.

ComplianceCompliance  

Document checks  

DAERA will complete document checks on the Generalgeneral Certificatecertificate and CHED using the CHED Inspection Platform (CHIP).Platform. 

InspectorsThe atcompetent authorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland pointsmay ofask entryyou will maketo a decision onprovide whetheradditional anyevidence identityto proceduresshow that the goods you are required.moving under NIRMS meet the requirements.

IdentityFor proceduresexample, conductedthe bycompetent DAERA willauthorities bemay doneask onyou afor percentagedocuments basis.to Driversshow shouldthat usegoods theirwhich goodsoriginated movementfrom referencecountries in the ‘checkrest ifof youworld needhave tosuccessfully reportpassed forchecks at an inspection’EU serviceborder tocontrol understandpost.

You ifmust theirprovide goodsa arevalidated held.CHED Thesefrom the EU border control post and the related export health certificate within 72 hours.    

Physical checks  

There will startbe atno 10%routine inor Octoberset 2023,physical reducechecks.

Interventions towill 8%be inbased Octoberonly 2024on risk and reduceintelligence furtherdecisions made by competent authorities to 5%deal inwith:

• smuggling
• criminality
• abuse
• specific Julyrisks 2025,to inanimal, accordanceplant withor thepublic conditionshealth 

Identity setchecks  

DAERA outinspectors inat theNorthern WindsorIreland Framework.points of entry will make a decision on whether any identity procedures are required.

DAERA will do identity checks on 10% of NIRMS consignments, based on risk and intelligence. These goods can only be sold in a NIRMS listed establishment in Northern Ireland.Ireland.  

Product

DAERA eligibility

will email operators that are responsible for the consignment to tell them if their consignment has been selected for inspection.

ReadIf thedrivers detailare onusing the eligibilitygoods ofvehicle productsmovement thatservice, canthey moveshould undercheck theif Northernyou Irelandneed Retailto Movementreport Schemefor an inspection. to see if their goods are held.