GB-NI trade: RHA meets HMRC and calls for changes

We've led engagement with Government and key stakeholders to highlight the issues which are affecting businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland. Our goal is to ensure resilience and protect the supply chain which has seen a 30% reduction in GB-NI freight since 2022.

We continue to seek clarity on the roles of the sender, haulier, and receiver within the non-retail groupage process and we believe that Input from industry experts across bulk, logistics, groupage, parcels, and freight forwarding will be essential to finding solutions.


RHA Managing Director Richard Smith said:


"Our thanks to the officials from HMRC for meeting with us. Our members and industry remain concerned about the impact of and associated costs these administrative burdens are placing on their operations.

"Our industry is crucial to the health of the overall economy and the main concern amongst hauliers moving goods from GB to NI is that they are being expected to carry the burden of complying with requirements of goods deemed to be ‘at risk’ under the Windsor Framework in circumstances where they’re not best placed to do so.

"In their discussions with the EU, we urge the government to push for moving the definition of ‘at risk’ to the point of sale at which stage it is known whether the goods are to remain in Northern Ireland or whether they will be transported into the EU. In the same way that shipping companies or airlines do not carry the burden of declarations (unless they are also the customs agent), we do not believe hauliers should either."


Richard added:

"We also believe there is scope for a more streamlined and simplified TSS system for businesses. We look forward to providing our submission to the independent review of the Windsor Framework on behalf of our industry. We'll continue to work towards finding practical solutions to these issues and ensure the supply chain remains fluid."

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