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Proposed changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol

By DTA | 21st May 2022 | News

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss updated the House of Commons on the government's intention to introduce legislation to make changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol.  

She announced that:

"the Bill will put in place the necessary measures to lessen the burden on East-West trade and to ensure the people of Northern Ireland are able to access the same benefits as the people of Great Britain.

The Bill will ensure that goods moving and staying within the UK are freed of unnecessary bureaucracy through our new 'green channel'. This respects Northern Ireland's place in the UK's customs territory and protects the UK internal market.

At the same time, it ensures that goods destined for the EU undergo the full checks and controls applied under EU law.

This will be underpinned by data-sharing arrangements that I have already set out.

It will allow both East-West trade and the EU single market to be protected while removing customs paperwork for goods remaining in the UK.

The Bill will remove regulatory barriers to goods made to UK standards being sold in Northern Ireland. Businesses will be able to choose between meeting UK or EU standards in a new dual regulatory regime."

There was no specific announcement relating to the regulation of medical devices, we look forward to hearing what MHRA intend for the future regulatory regime for medical devices in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Read the full Foreign Secretary Statement.

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