Windsor Framework timeline
Last updated: 20 March 2025
The Windsor Framework establishes a new set of arrangements for the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Framework is being implemented in stages until 2025, with some processes already in operation.
The following timeline summarises the forthcoming arrangements:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Date 1 May 2025 | Event The new set of arrangements for the movement of parcels GB-NI will apply. |
| Date
1 July 2025 |
Event
The final SPS inspection facilities are to be in place in Northern Ireland. |
| Date
1 July 2025 |
Event
All retail goods (other than goods sold loose) should be individually labelled (with some exceptions for those not subjected to EU official controls (e.g. confectionery, chocolate, pasta, biscuits, coffee). The rate of identity checks on retail goods consignments reduces to 5%. |
| Date
31 December 2025 |
Event
The grace period for veterinary medicines ends. By this date, the UK must ensure that supplies of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland conform with relevant EU law and the provisions of the Windsor Framework. |
| Date
By 1 January 2027 |
Event
A review of the Enhanced Coordination Mechanism on VAT and Excise should take place. |
There are a number of arrangements that have already been introduced including:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Date
9 January 2023 |
Event
The UK and EU reach an agreement on sharing trade data. The data sharing arrangements is one of the conditions for the trusted trader/internal market system in the Windsor Framework |
| Date
27 February 2023 |
Event
The EU and UK reach an agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework. |
| Date
24 March 2023 |
Event
The EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee formally adopted the new arrangements set out in the Windsor Framework. |
| Date
1 October 2023 |
Event
The new trusted trader scheme, the UK Internal Market Scheme, expands the range of goods considered ‘not at risk’ of moving into the EU single market, and therefore increases the range of businesses which won’t have to pay EU customs duties when moving goods GB-NI. From September 2024, reduced customs paperwork will apply to these goods and the ‘full’ system will be in effect. |
| Date
1 October 2023 |
Event
The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) begins to operate. This means simplified rules and procedures for pre-packaged retail goods being moved from GB to NI. UK, not EU, public health and consumer protection standards apply to food and drink from GB, which is being sold to consumers in NI. Where required, EU standards on animal and plant health still apply. Identity checks are reduced to 10% of all consignments of retail goods. Certain conditions are to be fulfilled: enhanced SPS inspection facilities are to be in place in Northern Ireland. Prepacked meat and fresh dairy should be individually labelled as ‘not for EU’. The UK Government is providing transitional reimbursement funding during this first phase of the labelling requirements. The Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) scheme comes into operation. Traders can move plants and seeds for planting, seed potatoes, and agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles from GB-NI, with easier requirements, if certain conditions are met, including having a valid NIPHL. Previously there was a ban on seed potatoes and certain plants from moving GB-NI. |
| Date
31 January 2024 |
Event
The UK Government published the ‘Safeguarding the Union’ Command Paper. |
| Date
12 April 2024 |
Event
The Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 enter into force, giving the UK Government powers to issue statutory guidance about the arrangements for implementation of the Windsor Framework. They also confer powers on Government Ministers to be able to do anything that a Northern Ireland Minister could do for the purpose of observing or implementing the relevant provisions of the Windsor Framework. |
| Date
By 31 July 2024 |
Event
The UK should give the European Commission a progress report on the completion of SPS inspection facilities in NI (and then every three months until the requirements are met). |
| Date 30 September 2024 | Event Northern Ireland businesses can import beef, lamb and poultry tariff-free from around the world through UK Free Trade Agreements. The new arrangements are available alongside the new UK Internal Market system. |
| Date 1 October 2024 | Event
In addition to the phase 1 products, all milk and dairy products moving to Northern Ireland under the Retail Movement Scheme will need to be individually labelled at product level. Compound products that include dairy products combined with another product of animal origin (POAO), such as dairy or fish, require labelling in phase 2. The frequency rate of identity checks on retail goods consignments reduces to 8%. |
| Date 13 December 2024 | Event The EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) comes into force. |