Windsor Framework
Sending Parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland (NI) After 31st March 2025
Effective March 31st, 2025, new regulations will apply to parcels shipped from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI) under the Windsor Framework.
What is UKIMS? UKIMS enables eligible ‘not at risk’ goods to move from a business in Great Britain to a business in Northern Ireland that are for sale to, or final use by, end consumers located in the UK, without the need for a full international customs declaration and without incurring duty. The definition for ‘not at risk’ goods can be found on the Government’s website here.
As a recap, for any destination which requires them, commodity codes are already requested
- The rules depend on whether you’re a business (B2B) or an individual (B2C) sending the parcel.
Business to Business (B2B):
- Green Lane Shipments: If your goods are staying in Northern Ireland and qualify for the UK Internal Market Scheme (UKIMS), you’ll need to register for a UKIMS number and provide it to your carrier.
- Red Lane Shipments: If your goods are considered “at risk” of leaving Northern Ireland, you’ll need to provide a full customs declaration and potentially pay EU duties.
Business to Consumer (B2C), Consumer to Consumer (C2C), Consumer to Business (C2B):
- No individual customs declarations are needed.
- However, you’ll need to provide your carrier with a detailed description of each item in your parcel, including:
- Number of items
- Product description
- Total value of the parcel
- Total weight of the parcel
Please note that these changes are mandated by the UK Government, and all carriers are implementing the necessary requirements.
To ensure a smooth transition, we suggest taking the following steps:
- Review the guidance provided by the UK Government regarding the Windsor Framework here.
- Register for a UKIMS number if applicable here.
We recommend familiarising yourself with these changes as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition for your parcels moving to Northern Ireland after March 31st.
Shipping Updates
Due to the devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine:
- Ukraine – service suspended
- Belarus – service suspended
- Russia – service suspended
Other shipping updates:
- Iran – service suspended due to sanctions
- Israel – expect delays to certain areas
- Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza – service suspended
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Emergency Situation Surcharge (ESS)
ICR Worldwide Express introduced the Emergency Situation Surcharge (ESS) in April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains in effect to address ongoing global logistics challenges, including economic, geopolitical, energy, and health-related pressures.
- Charge: £1 per kg (minimum £2.50 per shipment)
- Purpose: The ESS covers increased costs and industry-wide pressures, influenced by both past and ongoing global conditions.
- Duration: Effective from 1st April 2020 and continuing until further notice. The surcharge is not permanent and will be reviewed regularly in line with industry and global developments.
This surcharge ensures we can maintain reliable, timely international delivery despite fluctuating global transportation conditions. For a full list of all surcharges, please visit: ICR Surcharges
Fuel Surcharge
The transport industry is subject to fluctuating fuel costs, which we have to allow for in our pricing scale. This will be updated on a monthly basis according to the following scale: Jet Fuel Index (USD per gallon)
Fuel Surcharge
- Domestic: 31.00%
- Int’l Express: 41.00%
There will be a 1 month delay in the application of the index. ICR Worldwide Express Ltd reserves the right to change the fuel supplement index and table with or without notice. Both the amount and duration of the surcharge will be determined at the sole discretion of ICR Worldwide Express Ltd.
Shipping between GB/EU
Goods moving from GB/EU are now subject to full customs controls. UK importers can claim tariff preference if they have a statement on origin – this must be made out by the exporter to confirm that the product originates in the EU. Include the following information on your commercial invoice when exporting / importing:
- Include shipper & receiver VAT & EORI numbers
- Describe goods accurately
- Include correct Commodity / HS code(s) and correct value of goods
- Include country of origin details, reason for export, apply correct incoterms as agreed with your customer (DDP / DAP)
- Include your (& the recipient’s) shipping addresses & contact details.
USA Shipping Update
Effective April 5th, 2025, all shipments destined for the United States with a declared customs value exceeding USD 800 will now require formal entry processing, as per updated U.S. Customs regulations. This marks a reduction from the previous threshold of USD 2,500. This change may result in transit delays.
€3 Customs Duty
Effective from 1 July 2026
The European Union will apply a fixed €3 customs duty will apply to individual items in parcel valued under €150.
Importantly, this charge applies per tariff classification (commodity code), not per parcel.
For example, if a single package contains a silk blouse and wool blouse (fall under different classifications) the total duty would be €6 rather than €3.
NEW EU PRODUCT IDENTIFIER (PID) REQUIREMENTS
1st November 2026 PID information becomes mandatory for applicable EU B2C shipments. Customs authorities will enforce the requirement from this date.
What are Product Identifiers (PIDs)?
As part of the EU’s customs reform programme, Product Identifiers (PIDs) will become mandatory for applicable Business-to-Consumer (B2C) shipments imported into the EU.
PIDs provide customs authorities with detailed product-level information, improving traceability, product safety monitoring, and customs compliance.
What Information is Required?
- For each product shipped, the following identifiers are required:
- M-PID (Merchant Product Identifier) • Your own product reference, SKU, or item code (Mandatory)
- NS-PID (Non-Standardised Product Identifier) • Manufacturer or supplier product code, model number, or style reference (Mandatory)
- S-PID (Standardised Product Identifier) • Barcode or recognised global identifier, such as GTIN, EAN, UPC, or ISBN (where available) (Mandatory if it exists)
- When adding a Product Identifier code to the commercial invoice, each must be identified using the proper header (M-PID; NS-PID; S-PID) followed by the respective code. If an S-PID is non-existent, please add “NO”.
IMPORTANT: The Product Identifier is a mandatory line-item requirement set directly by the European Union and is not specific to any carrier. All express carriers require this data to complete import customs clearance. If mandatory line-item PIDs are missing or left out of your shipping data, the carrier will not be able to clear your goods, which may result in customs delays or the shipment being returned to origin (RTO) at your expense.
Learn more about the new EU customs requirements, applicable charges click HERE
Effective 1st November 2026, a €2 fee will apply per customs declaration line (not per parcel), charged in addition to any applicable customs duties. Consignments containing multiple distinct declaration lines will incur multiple line charges.
This rule applies to all B2C shipments entering the European Union from third countries regardless of consignment value. It applies across all shipments, whether under or over €150
Following the removal of the €150 duty-free threshold in July 2026 (Phase 1), the European Union is introducing mandatory digital Product Identifiers (PIDs) and a new EU-wide customs handling fee from 1 November 2026.
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