New Northern Ireland Labelling Rules: What Importers, Exporters, and Retailers Need to Know

From 1 July 2025, businesses moving retail goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will face new labelling requirements. These changes form part of the next phase of the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS), introduced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). At Future Forwarding Company, we specialise in freight forwarding and supply chain management. The intricate details of imports, exports, and road freight operations are crucial to us. We also provide customs compliance consulting to ensure seamless operations for our clients. As a freight forwarder, we want our clients to have a clear understanding of these changes and how they may impact your imports, exports, and road freight operations.

Why This Change Matters

The new legislation aims to protect the flow of goods into Northern Ireland while meeting obligations under the Windsor Framework. Goods moving under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme must now be labelled “Not for EU.” This is to make sure products intended for sale in Northern Ireland do not accidentally enter the EU market.

For retailers and suppliers who rely on a stable supply chain and efficient freight forwarding, staying compliant with these rules is critical. Incorrect or missing labels could delay shipments, cause customs issues, or lead to rejected goods.

What Products Are Affected

The new labelling rule applies to a wide range of food products and composite goods, including:

• Pre-packed meat and dairy
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Fish and seafood
• Composite products such as sandwiches, ready meals, and bakery items

If your business imports or exports any of these items to retail premises in Northern Ireland, this change will likely affect your operations.

Key Dates for Your Calendar

The main implementation date is 1 July 2025. From this day forward, affected goods must be clearly marked “Not for EU” before being moved to Northern Ireland.

There is a 30-day transition period. Any goods placed on the Northern Ireland market before 1 July 2025 are exempt from the labelling requirement until 31 July 2025. After that, all affected products must meet the new labelling standards.

What You Need to Do

Now is the time to review your supply chain and product packaging. Retailers, importers, and exporters should begin planning with their suppliers and freight forwarders to ensure packaging changes are in place before the July deadline.

Steps you should take include:

• Checking if your goods fall under the new labelling rules
• Updating packaging processes to apply “Not for EU” labels
• Coordinating with your freight forwarder to ensure all shipments meet the new requirements
• Reviewing documentation and customs procedures in advance

How Future Forwarding Company Can Help

As a trusted freight forwarding partner with experience in customs compliance consulting and UK-EU logistics, Future Forwarding Company can help you stay ahead of these changes. We manage imports and exports across the UK and Northern Ireland and understand the impact these changes can have on your supply chain.

Our team is ready to support you with:

• Product classification advice
• Documentation checks
• Road freight logistics planning
• Supply chain coordination
• Customs compliance consulting

We work closely with retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers to keep goods moving efficiently and legally. If you need help adapting your logistics processes or updating your packaging to meet the new rules, speak to one of our specialists.

Where to Find Official Guidance

For full details, DEFRA’s guidance is available at:

This covers which products are affected, how the labels must appear, and how the scheme applies to different types of businesses.

Final Notes

With the 1 July 2025 deadline approaching, we recommend that businesses start preparing as early as possible. Future Forwarding Company will continue monitoring developments and keep our clients updated. If your business relies on regular road freight or retail product movement into Northern Ireland, planning now will help avoid disruption later.

For any questions or support on adapting your freight operations, contact us today. We are here to keep your supply chain moving.

Contact us today to speak to one of our freight specialists.