New Windsor Framework customs rules start May 1

New customs rules from the Windsor Framework will take effect on May 1, 2025. This framework was created to manage trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland after Brexit. The updated rules include new customs processes for business-to-business parcels. For the first time, these businesses will need to submit customs declarations. However, individual consumers in Northern Ireland will continue to receive packages from Great Britain without any changes. Parcel delivery companies will need to join a trusted trader scheme and provide necessary information to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This development stems from long-standing challenges in managing parcel trade after Brexit, particularly concerning controls on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland remained part of the EU's single market for goods after Brexit, leading to new checks on shipments. This was initially managed by the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was later revised into the Windsor Framework in 2023. This framework aims to simplify trade processes while ensuring that goods do not wrongly enter the EU market.