Updated Windsor Framework Guidance for Businesses Sending Parcels to Northern Ireland

Businesses shipping to Northern Ireland should prepare for the new regulations under The Windsor Framework, affecting parcel movements from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI). These changes, take effect from May 1, 2025.

Key Changes for Parcel Shipments

Under the new framework, senders will need to provide additional shipment data based on the type of sender and receiver:

• All Senders: Each item in the shipment must have a clear goods description in plain English, along with its weight, value, and country of origin.

• Business-to-Business (B2B) Shipments: Additional information will be required, and businesses are advised to begin preparations now.

‘Green’ Lane Shipments

Parcels moving to Northern Ireland under the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS) may qualify for the ‘green’ lane if they are not at risk of entering the EU. Businesses using this route must:

• Review UKIMS scheme guidance.

• Register with the UK Government for a UKIMS number.

• Provide the sender or receiver’s UKIMS number as part of the shipment details.

• Ensure the UKIMS holder is declared as the importer on record.

Red Lane Shipments – Important Guidance

For business-to-business (B2B) shipments that do not qualify under the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS), goods will be classified as ‘at risk’ of moving beyond Northern Ireland into the EU. These shipments must include a full international dataset for customs declarations and will be subject to EU duty rates.

If you plan to ship red lane goods please contact your local Rapid Despatch International Courier office for further information.