Last-minute guidance on online orders eases fears of NI consumers
Deliveries from GB stores to resume but hauliers facing a ‘clunky’ system
DEPARTMENT store giant John Lewis has said it’s preparing to resume deliveries to Northern Ireland following new guidance on sending consumer parcels here.
But a body representing hauliers warned of “trepidation” about the new era in the transport of commercial goods between Great Britain and NI.
Last night at 11pm marked the start of a new regime for trade from GB into NI, at the end of transition period following the UK’S exit from the European Union.
Under the NI Protocol, Northern Ireland effectively remains in the EU single market for goods, and while still part of the UK customs union, will enforce EU customs rules. The changes mean checks and paperwork, including customs declarations for commercial goods coming into NI ports from GB.
Seamus Leheny of transport representative body Logistics UK said the volume of lorries coming in would be “fairly low” for the first few days. “It’s like that scene in Jaws where no-one wants to go into the water. Everyone is waiting to see how everyone else’s freight runs from today. There is a bit of trepidation and looking to see what happens.”
A three-month grace period which will allow consumer parcel deliveries to continue from GB unimpeded was announced yesterday, and will reassure people here who shop online with big retailers based in GB.
But it’s not clear what will happen from April 1, with the Government stating that further details will come “in due course”.
The prospect of change had prompted Debenhams, Dunelm, John Lewis and TK Maxx to pause deliveries to customers here. But a John Lewis spokesman said yesterday: “We temporarily paused deliveries and collections in NI from December 30 while we awaited further guidance on the new trading arrangements.
“We are reviewing the guidance we have received and look forward to resuming these services as soon as possible.”
Yodel, one of the UK’S largest delivery firms, has told customers they will have to pay additional charges for shipments to Northern Ireland because of the extra bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, Dunelm reiterated it’s on track to resume deliveries by January 11, but it was unclear whether the three-month grace period would alter Debenhams’ policy. The department store chain said: “We have informed our customers in NI and the Republic that we are temporarily closing the debenhams.ie website and not shipping to NI for the time being, because of the changes that need to be made for compliance once the UK leaves the EU. A number of other retailers are acting similarly.”
The NI Consumer Council said that despite the grace period, it was still concerned about the long-term solution for NI consumers and business.
The guidance requires business receiving a parcel with goods over £135 to submit a declaration through The Trader Support Service within three months.
Kellin Mccloskey, the council’s head of postal services, said: “The Consumer Council remain concerned that any long term solution which involves customs declarations and checks will impact on NI consumers in terms of additional cost, or a reduction in the number of retailers selling to NI.
“We will continue to work with UK Government to reinforce this issue.”
Mr Leheny said Logistics UK members were getting to grips with the official Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) for clearing customs checks.
“They are telling me that the systems are up and running and the declarations are going through but it is administration-heavy,” he said.