What happens after 31st March 2025 if I cannot provide all the data required by my carriers?

Amendment to Go Live Date for UK Windsor Framework

On 19th September 2024, the UK Government confirmed that the new arrangements under the Windsor Framework for parcels and freight movements that were planned to come into effect from 30th September 2024 will be deferred until 31st March 2025. See Sending parcels to and from Northern Ireland for the full statement.

Metapack is currently assessing the implications of this change in conjunction with the carriers, to understand how this changes our short-term planning. Some carriers may still decide to implement the changes they prepared on/prior to 30th September 2024, the results of which may also require Metapack to deploy any complementary changes.

Additionally, please note that carriers may take this opportunity to redesign elements of their Windsor Framework solution which may in turn generate new requirements for Metapack and our Customers. Metapack shall issue revised guidance as/when this is confirmed.

Our goal now is to ensure that both Metapack and our Customers can effectively plan and deliver the changes required for the Windsor Framework data regulations in advance of the new deadline.

What happens if I do not provide all of the information requested by my carrier?

You should liaise directly with your carriers if you believe that you will be unable to provide the information they require. The carrier will be able to advise on the impact on movements between GB and NI and may recommend how best to mitigate that impact.

If you are shipping B2B, you should liaise with your carrier to understand whether they can support these shipments. Where they do, you will need to confirm any additional shipping requirements and if B2B shipping is supported on all carrier services you plan to use.

My carrier has advised they will cease support for shipments to NI from 31st March 2025 on the integration I am using. What should I do?

You will need to identify an alternative carrier integration for your traffic from 31st March 2025. In some cases, carriers may have an alternative integration that you can use. In other cases, you may need to ship with an alternate carrier.

What can I do to mitigate risk?

Once you understand the position of each carrier you plan to use to ship GB-NI, you may want to consider identifying a backup carrier should you be concerned about your current carrier's readiness.