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UK Trade with EU: Import Controls

Asked by Jim AllisterTraditional Unionist VoiceTreasuryTabled Answered 13 November 2025UIN 89107

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Trader Support Service has not used the derogation to delay until 1 January 2026 the commencement of Import Control System 2 for the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson

All businesses, including those using the Trader Support Service, have until midnight on 31 December 2025 to onboard onto the Import Control System 2 (ICS2), so they can continue to provide safety and security information for certain goods moving by road to Northern Ireland.

Traders can continue to move goods through the Trader Support Service using ICS NI until 31 December 2025.

The ICS2 system has been available for road movements since 1 April 2025, with operators initially having until 1 September 2025 to onboard to the new system. This has subsequently been extended to 31 December 2025 to give businesses more time to prepare.

HMRC has an extensive communications and engagement plan to support business readiness for the changes, and businesses moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are encouraged to start using ICS2 before 31 December 2025 if they are ready to do so.

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