Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with the EU to negotiate an exemption from ATA Carnets and CITES certification for temporary (1) import, and (2) export, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

HMG published a Command Paper on 21 July setting out a proposed way forward on the Northern Ireland Protocol. This seeks to ensure that businesses and consumers can have normal access to goods from the rest of the UK and sets out a possible approach whereby movements that are purely between GB and NI do not require customs processes.

The Government is not having any discussions with the EU to negotiate an exemption from CITES certification or ATA Carnets for temporary import or export between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. CITES certification is required so as to continue to uphold the UK’s obligations under international agreements. ATA Carnets are not a requirement, they are an optional facilitation which allows goods to be imported temporarily without import duty being paid, and a single document to be used for multiple countries’ customs controls. The UK and approximately 80 countries around the world (including all EU member states) accept ATA Carnets and are signatories to the Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet and the Istanbul Convention on Temporary Admission which govern the use of Carnets.