Key changes: how we’re affected

1. Food prices

THE cost of food is likely to rise in the wake of Brexit. Any products of animal origin — meat, milk, fish and eggs — coming into NI from the rest of the UK will require an Export Health Certificate (EHC). EHCS are an expensive piece of administration, signed off by a vet, which could add thousands of pounds of cost to of a typical supermarket shipment.

3. Vehicle ‘green cards’

Following the transition, in the event that no further arrangement is agreed, a certificate called a ‘Green Card’ may be required for vehicles from the UK, including Northern Ireland, being driven in Ireland or other EU Member States. This is issued by your insurance company and proves the vehicle is insured.

5. Mobile phones

Surcharge-free roaming on mobile phones when you travel to EU and EEA countries will no longer be guaranteed from the beginning of 2021. The mobile operators — Three, EE, O2 and Vodafone — have stated they have no current plans to change their mobile roaming policies.

7. Travelling changes

Travel to the EU and EEA countries will change from January 1. People from NI will be able to travel freely to the Republic but there may be differences when travelling to other EU and EEA countries. These include the possibility that you may have to show your return ticket and money at border control.

9. Tea costs

The price of tea in NI could rise for the consumer. Tea companies, such as Thompson’s Tea, are stockpiling tea and teabag paper. Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, from January 1 they will have to complete customs declarations for any of these raw materials that are imported from Great Britain.

2. Bank card use

If you have a UK bank account and intend to use your bank card to pay for goods and services while you are in the EU, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (the European Economic Area, EEA), this may become more expensive. However, if your firm needs to make changes to your product or the way it provides it, your firm should contact you.

4. Online shopping

Brexit may impact on online shopping delivery times, cost and even availability of products. There is a lack of clarity over what will be required for goods from GB to be sent to NI. Currently, no customs declarations are required but this may change and there are concerns it will be a complex process.

6. M&S food products

Marks & Spencer has warned that up to 15% of its food product lines could be unavailable in its NI shops in January. As is the case with many Brexit challenges, the EU single market and NI protocol could result in fewer items on sale in M&S stores. It warned “retailers need urgent answers from government”.

8. Second-hand cars

Anyone looking to buy a second-hand vehicle might find it more expensive after the transition period. Great Britain is a significant source of second-hand cars for NI, either from auctions or cars coming off a lease. From January, car dealers will have to pay VAT on the full price they paid for the car in Great Britain.

10. Weaker pound

Brexit has already weakened the value of the pound and there are fears it could plummet at the end of the transition period. This will have a massive impact on households acrossni. If the pound is worth less, the cost of imported goods from overseas goes up, while the cost of cupboard staples will also increase.