The green lane/red lane system, a key component of the Windsor Framework, is now operational, but how does it work? The Windsor Framework is an agreement that keeps Northern Ireland within the EU’s single market for goods. This allows goods to move freely between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. However, goods coming from Great Britain to Northern Ireland face various controls and checks. The aim of the framework is to minimize controls on goods from Great Britain that are intended to be sold in Northern Ireland.
The green lane/red lane system is not a physical concept, but rather a concept. Goods moving through Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and the wider EU will have to go through red lane procedures, such as full customs documentation and checks. On the other hand, goods from Great Britain to be sold to consumers in Northern Ireland will use the green lane, which will require minimal paperwork and few routine checks. Companies will need to be part of a trusted trader scheme to utilize the green lane.
Under the framework, food products being sold to consumers in Northern Ireland can be produced to UK standards, ending the “sausage war” ban on chilled meat products from Great Britain. However, food products arriving from Great Britain may need to be labeled as “not for EU” to ensure compliance with EU standards. Posters with this message will also be displayed in shops. Shoppers from the Republic of Ireland can still take goods from Northern Ireland supermarkets without any prohibitions.
The horticulture industry has been affected by the framework, with new inspection and certification requirements for plants moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Some products, such as seed potatoes, have been completely banned. Instead of full EU certification, plants and seeds will now move under a simplified Northern Ireland Plant Health Label Scheme. The GB seed potato ban will also be partially lifted to allow trade between registered operators, but not direct sales to consumers.
Business organizations have raised concerns about the gap between the agreement and operational guidance, but a temporary fix has been implemented while long-term guidance is being developed. Businesses are expected to work towards compliance gradually rather than achieving 100% compliance on day one. The UK and EU are unlikely to come down hard on businesses during the implementation phase.
Politically, the framework has been supported by nationalist parties and the centrist Alliance Party as a necessary compromise for dealing with Brexit’s impact. Unionist parties oppose the framework, arguing that it undermines Northern Ireland’s place in the UK. The government has stated that it will strengthen the guarantee of freely selling goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain but will not reopen negotiations with the EU.
Further parts of the framework will be implemented over the next two years, including the expansion of “Not for EU” labels to the rest of the UK in 2024.