Sending sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) parcels from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
About checks and controls when sending parcels that contain sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods to Northern Ireland.
Last updated: 1 May 2025
This guidance is for businesses and individuals sending sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods by post from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland. Examples of SPS goods include agrifood goods, plants and products containing animal or plant elements.
Moving goods to Northern Ireland
You can move some goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland using the:
You must be registered and approved to use the schemes.
NIRMS is for businesses moving prepacked retail goods, including food and food contact materials. It allows goods to move with simplified certification and fewer checks.
The NIPHL Scheme is for businesses moving plants and seeds for planting, and seed potatoes. It allows goods to move with simplified certification.
If you cannot use NIRMS or the NIPHL Scheme, goods can be moved to Northern Ireland under the Official Controls Regulation (OCR). This route is also for goods that are at risk of moving outside the UK internal market into the EU.
Goods moving under the OCR may be subject to prohibitions and restrictions. They may also need:
- health certification (such as export health certificates, phytosanitary certificates, and organic certificates of inspection)
- pre-notifying on TRACES-NT to make officials aware of the arrival of the goods
- checks at
Check the specific requirements for:
- plants and plant products
- (such as bees)
Choosing your parcel carrier or postal service and how to label SPS post and parcels
You should discuss the goods, requirements and regulations with your chosen parcel carrier. Confirm that they can comply fully, so your goods reach their destination with minimal disruption.
You must clearly label parcels as containing SPS goods. For example, with a green label that includes the wording ‘SPS’.
Information for postal services and parcel carriers
Make sure that anyone using your services understands that some goods are subject to controls.
For all post and parcels containing SPS goods, you must ensure the sending business:
- attaches any health certificates as necessary
- labels the parcel as containing SPS goods
When moving goods that may need to be checked at an SPS inspection facility, you need to:
- work with the sending business to meet all regulatory requirements and scheme conditions to avoid delayed or rejected shipments
- group them together so they can be easily identified and checked
- present them for checks at an inspection facility