Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds Central)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will list the international obligations which will require declarations in respect of goods moving from Northern Ireland to GB under the Irish protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement.
Answered by James Duddridge
The deal negotiated by the Government with the EU explicitly allows the UK to ensure unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. The UK does not therefore intend to carry out checks on such movements of goods.
There will be a minimal administrative process which is designed to prevent, for example, trade in endangered species. We will work with the EU to eliminate this limited process as soon as possible after Brexit.
These arrangements automatically dissolve after four years unless a majority of the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont votes to keep them.