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Farmer Gerard McArdle welcome an Irish and French minister during a visit to his dairy farm in Faughart, Co. Louth, close to the border with Northern Ireland. July 2019. PA Images

Brexit questions answered: A few things of note about what will change

Brexit continues to trundle towards us – here’s a bit more information about what is changing.

AS WE APPROACH the end of the transition period that was to prepare people for Brexit Part II, or the UK’s exit from the EU’s Single Market and the Customs Union, there are a few changes that are worth highlighting. 

Last week, we took a general overview of how Brexit ‘in practice’ would change things in Ireland: in short, it will mean a increased checks at ports and airports, new customs procedures for importers and exports, and additional costs when buying from the UK.

We had a few questions in from readers about what Brexit will mean for them, so here’s our attempt to answer some of them (we’re still working on answers for other queries).

I’m moving to the UK next year – will it be more difficult?

Irish citizens can continue to travel to the UK because of Common Travel Area rights and privileges, which pre-date Ireland and the UK’s membership of the European Union.

This is the same for British citizens moving here: both can continue to live, work, study and access services, including health and education services, as is the case now.

There are additional hurdles for other EU citizens arriving in the UK, however. The UK is introducing a points-based immigration system from 1 January 2021. 

Will British professional qualifications be recognised in Ireland?

brexit PA PA

Existing EU professional qualifications will continue to be recognised in the UK, and likewise, existing UK qualifications will continue to be recognised in the EU.

This ‘grandfathering’ measure is contained in the Withdrawal Agreement.

But – any person applying to have their qualification recognised for the first time from 1 January 2021 will no longer be covered by the EU’s Professional Qualifications Directive.

The recognition of new UK qualifications in Ireland and the rest of the EU, and vice-versa, will be possible after 31 December, but will be based on national rules and processes “and will be more complex”, according to the Irish government.

On rules of origin for Northern Ireland

The Department of Foreign Affairs has emphasised that after 31 December, UK products and materials (this includes Northern Ireland goods) will no longer be considered as “of EU origin” for the purposes of international trade.

This could prove particularly difficult for farmers and producers of agri-foods on the island of Ireland, which operate on an all-island basis, dairy farmers in particular.

Though Northern Irish goods will continue to circulate freely in the EU Single Market, as Northern Ireland will abide by the rules of the EU’s Customs Code while remaining part of the UK’s customs territory.

When exporting outside of the EU, Northern Irish goods are considered ‘UK goods’ for the purposes of ‘rules of origin’ requirements.

On safety certs

From 1 January 2021, British regulators or ‘notified bodies’ will no longer be allowed to certify products as being compliant with EU rules and standards in respect of specific regulatory controls, public safety and health.

This means that British notified bodies giving a safety approval on a product will now mean something different than the EU’s (though it’s possible the UK will maintain the same standards as the EU in most cases). 

What are my consumer rights?

EU consumer protection legislation may no longer apply to items bought from the UK, meaning you may no longer be able to return a product after 14 days.

The advice is to check the terms and conditions on the website of a British retailer before purchasing.

A quick note on: The UK landbridge

Irish hauliers will be permitted to transport goods through the UK without undergoing full customs import and export formalities – whether that’s possible to do without getting stuck in a traffic jam is another question entirely.

But there will be new requirements (including new paperwork) and the need for each consignment to have a financial guarantee in place to cover the potential customs duties and other taxes at risk during the movement.

Hauliers have also been reminded by the Department of Foreign Affairs to be aware of the UK’s Border Operating Model.

If you have a Brexit question you want answered, feel free to email it to us: grainne@thejournal.ie. 

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Oct 31st 2020, 9:03 AM

    At long last they can now take total control of their borders around Northern Ireland and Kent. Karma.

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    Mute Peter Donoghue
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    Oct 31st 2020, 10:39 AM

    IF… “Common Travel Area rights and privileges, which pre-date Ireland and the UK’s membership of the European Union”.
    WHY, did Ireland insist that I surrender my U.K. Driving licence ?

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    Mute Pat Farrelly
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    Oct 31st 2020, 11:05 AM

    @Peter Donoghue: Because it is a common travel area not a common driver licensing area.

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    Mute Tony Humphreys
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    Oct 31st 2020, 11:29 AM

    @Peter Donoghue: because all those 55 Euros add up

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    Mute Leo Sharkey
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    Oct 31st 2020, 12:33 PM

    @Peter Donoghue: You have to surrender your licence as you would in Northern Ireland or Scotland if driving on an English (not UK) licence. There is no UK driving licence.

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    Mute Joe Thorpe
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    Oct 31st 2020, 12:51 PM

    @Leo Sharkey: Rubbish, DVLA is UK its based in Swansea in Wales

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    Mute Kevin Dwyer
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    Oct 31st 2020, 9:54 AM

    Will online Amazon type purchases from the U.K. be liable for Irish VAT from 1st January 2021?

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Oct 31st 2020, 10:13 AM

    @Kevin Dwyer: and import duty. By local, nationally or within the EU.

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    Mute Tony Humphreys
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    Oct 31st 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Kevin Dwyer: yes, but they won’t be liable for UK vat, we will buy vat free then play the lottery of whether they get pulled and charged by customs. On balance over a good few purchases we will probably be better off even with the 10 Euro fee

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    Mute Joe Thorpe
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    Oct 31st 2020, 12:48 PM

    @Kevin Dwyer: Amazon are separating their UK business from EU on the 15th November in preparation. Businesses that want to sell into the UK will have to have their stock located into one of their UK fulfilment centres for distribution into the UK & vice versa how that effects us with regard to buying electrical items with the wrong plugs is anyone’s guess. Many electrical items lose their guarantee if you modify them and the last time I looked changing a plug is a modification.

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    Mute Mark
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    Oct 31st 2020, 3:53 PM

    @Kevin Dwyer: the Irish VAT rate has been applied on Amazon for a number of years now. Ever notice the price changes slightly from that advertised when an Irish address is selected. Think this only applies to items bought directly from Amazon and not Marketplace.

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    Mute Heisen berg1
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    Oct 31st 2020, 10:20 AM

    2020 is the worst thing to happen to Ireland, Brext is all but a little dent at this stage.

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    Mute Tony Ember
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    Oct 31st 2020, 12:31 PM

    Ireland as part of EU is in a stable position, the Brits chose to free themselves from that. When Britain finds out how impoverished it is and their poverty population increases, we will be looking at vast numbers of economic refugees from UK. This in turn will create greater problems for housing and all social services.

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    Mute Joe Thorpe
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    Oct 31st 2020, 12:53 PM

    @Tony Ember: lol you think?

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    Mute Bill ORourke
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    Oct 31st 2020, 7:27 PM

    @Tony Ember: No.

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    Mute AssO856
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    Oct 31st 2020, 9:40 AM

    So, no deal Brexit will be disaster for the Republic.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Oct 31st 2020, 10:00 AM

    @AssO856: At first things will be very different and hard but like everything else it will level out . I feel that EU will fare out better in the long run and the UK citizens will feel the pinch much worse sooner but that was their choice

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    Mute AssO856
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    Oct 31st 2020, 10:05 AM

    @FlopFlipU: yeah that’s true you said. But I’m afraid that it will level out from our pockets.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Oct 31st 2020, 10:28 AM

    @AssO856: I would say you are spot on

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    Mute John Quinn
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    Oct 31st 2020, 11:42 AM

    So the North won’t be in Ireland, the Uk or Europe ,..am l right?

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    Mute Jack O Sullivan
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    Oct 31st 2020, 6:08 PM

    Can you now have a Irish license and a U K licence?

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    Mute Joe Clery
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    Oct 31st 2020, 10:01 PM

    Dang … agri could be in for a rough time.. Duties on its exports to UK and becuase NI and and ROI are wrapped up together, NI sourced food wont be accepted as EU products for export outside EU.

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