Supermarket ‘still facing sea border problems’

Major supermarkets are still experiencing “continuous practical difficulties” with the Windsor framework, stating that MPs.

The NI Retail Consortium (NIRC), who represents retailers, commented on submission of his submission for an inquiry conducted by the NI Affairs Committee.

framework Northern Ireland is the post-breaks deal that covers business and human rights.

This is one The original Brexit Deal of Northern Ireland, the modified version of the protocol.

Protocol A trade range between Great Britain and Northern Ireland created As a way to prevent a difficult range between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

This meant that their northern Ireland stores were largely supplied from GB distribution centers as a major headache for supermarkets.

The major difference of framework from the protocol is that it allows food products sold in Northern Ireland to be sold on UK standards rather than the standards of the European Union.

It also created the NI Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS), which is a reliable merchant scheme, which allows food products to be transferred from Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland with minimal paperwork and some regular check -up.

However NIRC said: “The simple system for the operation of NIRMS has become more complicated in its years of use.”

It states that the percentage of physically tested vehicles during 2024 increased to “additional delays and sometimes rejection of the lorry affecting retail operation”.

It said that the IT system had deteriorated in recent months to validate paperwork and now take at least 30 minutes to process each submission, which has “incapacity within the supply chains”.

NIRC has also questioned whether the next major stage of the framework can be applied to its planned timetable.

New procedures for parcels being sent from businesses in GB are going to be implemented in late March.

The parcel carrier will have to sign up for a reliable merchant scheme and business-to-business parcels will face customs procedures for the first time.

NIRC stated that it was concerned that “parcel carriers including Royal Mail, may not be ready for the introduction of new requirements”.

It states that it was “concerned about the level of disintegration that has been placed on 31 March 2025”.

A government spokesperson said: “The government is committed to the complete and loyal implementation of the Windsor framework as the only reliable and durable solution for Northern Ireland, which ensures smooth trade and to avoid a difficult limit.”

It is understood that the government will soon determine more guidance on changes in March.

Meanwhile Times is a newspaper It was suggested that the government would prepare to make a new deal with the European Union, which would include the UK after the rules of the European Union on food and agriculture.

Such a deal will fundamentally reduce the required checks and control on goods going from GB to NI, but will be controversial.

Lord Frost, a conservative colleague and former Brexitist, said that such a step would “sell the self -government of this country in a foreign court”.

The government has not commented on the story.

It has earlier set ambitions for an agarfood deal that can reduce trade friction and support the smooth movement of goods between GB and NI.