Change to license verification for NI movements on 28th June 2025

From 28th June 2025, licence data on declarations for NI goods movements will be verified by a system called CERTEX. This replaces the Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) for Northern Ireland.

Where a licence is required, this change will impact the following document types: 

• Certificates of Organic Conformity (COI) 
• Plants and plant products (CHED.PP) 
• Food and feed of non-animal origin (CHED.D) 
• Food and products of animal origin (CHED.P) 
• Live animals (CHED.A) 
• Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) 
• Fluorinated Gases (FGAS) 

For these licensed goods moving into or out of Northern Ireland by import, export or transit, information on declarations such as commodity code, net mass, and supplementary units must match with licences. This is essential to avoid unnecessary delays to the movement of goods.  

Also, from 28th June 2025, the Common Health Entry Document (CHED) reference must also be provided on the  declaration in the new format. The reference format must be letters followed by numbers and include the full stop character. For example, 'CHEDA.XI.2025.1234567'.  

If a trader is pre-lodging a declaration that will be arrived from 28th June this will need to include the new CHED format.

If they have already pre-lodged a declaration for arrival from 28th June using the old CHED format, they will need to use the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) and amend this prior to the arrival of the goods.

They must continue to use the old CHED format if they are pre-lodging a declaration that will arrive prior to 28 June. Failure to use the correct CHED format will result in rejections once the goods arrive and potentially delays in getting the goods released.  

Processes for making a declaration or obtaining a licence remain unchanged. 

Detailed guidance can be found on gov.uk. 

Upcoming document code changes to facilitate CERTEX validation

From 28^th June 2025 certain document codes will start to be validated against the EU CERTEX data base. This will mainly impact the import of sanitary & phytosanitary goods into Northern Ireland.

The attached document (see bottom of page) provides advanced notice of the changes. For pre-lodged declarations relating to goods arriving in Northern Ireland from 28^th June onwards, the revised requirements should be applied immediately, otherwise the declaration will need to be amended before the goods are arrived.

You can also view the Advanced Publishing Draft Appendix 5A amendments for CERTEX including NIRMS spreadsheet by clicking here.

Additional support for traders 

For support for goods in movement, contact the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk. 

For general support with freight movements, traders can contact the Trader Support Service team, or call the HMRC Customs and International Trade helpline on‌‌‌ 0300‌‌‌ 322‌‌‌ 9434‌‌‌ (textphone 0300‌‌‌ 200‌‌‌ 3719).  

For support with parcels movements, traders can contact their parcel express operator. Please note this change does not impact express operators moving consumer parcels under the UK Carrier Scheme.  

Published on 3rd June 2025
Customs Policy & Strategy 

See Attached Document