Defra updates guidance on labelling requirements under NIRMS
19th September 2024
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has updated its guidance on labelling requirements for specific products moving from Great Britain to retail premises in Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS).
The guidance now includes information on products that need individual product labels with the words ‘Not for EU’ from 1 July 2025 as part of Phase 3 of NIRMS.
Currently, all meat products and some dairy products moving under NIRMS must be individually labelled.
From 1 October 2024, as well as the phase 1 products, all milk and dairy products moving to Northern Ireland under NIRMS need to be individually labelled.
From 1 July 2025 (phase 3), food products such as pet food, unprocessed fruit and vegetables, fish, eggs, honey and composite products such as pizza will have to be individually labelled to move through NIRMS.
Deregulated fruits, products that meet UK public health standards and do not need certification or controls at agri-food points of entry under the Official Controls Regulation, and shelf-stable composite products will not need to be individually labelled as they will be exempt.
Products caught by phase 3 but which are moved into Northern Ireland before 1 July 2025 will not need an individual product label until 31 July 2025.
You can read the full Defra guidance here.
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