Food, plants and animal products to Northern Ireland
An uncertified agrifood parcel is not refused when you book it. It is accepted, carried, and can then be returned or destroyed. That is why this one is worth reading before you ship.
Why this one matters more than the rest
Most shipping mistakes are caught at booking. This one is not. An uncertified parcel of food or plants can travel, be charged for, and then be returned or destroyed on arrival, with no warning at any earlier point.
What counts as SPS goods
Sanitary and phytosanitary goods are products of animal or plant origin and the food made from them: meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, prepared foods, plants, bulbs, seeds and cut flowers.
It also covers things nobody thinks of as food. Gelatin, enzymes, blood and biological reagents, raw hides, wool and feathers all fall inside the same rules.
Goods processed and packaged so that they no longer pose a biosecurity risk are often exempt, which is why a blanket ban on anything edible would be wrong. The commodity code tells you what a thing is, not whether this particular movement needs a certificate.
The three routes that make it legal
- Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) for prepacked retail agrifood. It needs registration, a General Certificate, and for products of animal origin a CHED-P raised on TRACES NT at least four hours before the goods move.
- Northern Ireland Plant Health Label scheme for plants and seeds.
- Health certification under the Official Controls Regulation, meaning an export health certificate, a phytosanitary certificate, or an organic certificate of inspection.
In every case the parcel must be clearly labelled as containing SPS goods. Live animals cannot be sent by parcel at all and must be presented at a designated point of entry.
Your carrier may refuse them anyway
The rules above are the law. Carriers layer their own acceptance policy on top and they differ widely. Some prohibit every agrifood commodity chapter outright. At least one will not carry SPS goods without prior approval from its customs team and destroys unapproved parcels.
Check the carrier's own published list before booking, and remember that a negotiated contract account can differ from the public service in both directions.
Common questions
Can I send food to Northern Ireland?
Yes, but food of animal origin and most agrifood needs certification. You need to move under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme, a plant health label for plants and seeds, or health certification such as an export health certificate. The parcel must also be labelled as containing SPS goods.
What happens if I send SPS goods without certification?
The parcel is not refused at booking. It can travel and then be returned or destroyed on arrival. Some carriers also prohibit agrifood outright, in which case they may destroy an unapproved shipment whatever its origin.
What is NIRMS?
The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. It covers prepacked retail agrifood moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and needs registration, a General Certificate, and a CHED-P raised on TRACES NT at least four hours in advance for products of animal origin.
Are all foods affected?
No. Goods processed and packaged so that they no longer pose a biosecurity risk are often exempt. The distinction turns on the goods themselves, so check the guidance for your product category rather than assuming either way.
You do not have to work it out alone. Tell us what you ship and where, and someone here will talk it through with you. We would far rather answer a question early than see a parcel held at a border.
Talk to the teamSources
- Sending parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (gov.uk)
- Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (DAERA)
Checked 2026-08-01. This is guidance, not customs or tax advice. Rules in this area change, so follow the links above for anything that turns on your own goods or registrations.
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