The Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework convened in London today, co-chaired by officials from the UK Government and the European Commission. The meeting focused on the implementation of the framework since its last gathering on 7 May 2026.
Co-chairs reaffirmed the ongoing commitment from both the UK and EU to ensure the full, timely, and faithful implementation of the Windsor Framework. They acknowledged actions taken for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland, while also noting remaining work needed to fully deliver safeguards for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
In the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area, the effective functioning of inspection facilities and individual labelling requirements was noted. However, progress is still required on issues such as full compliance of certificates, box-level labelling, and ensuring only compliant goods are authorised for movement.
Regarding trade and customs, it was confirmed that no customs duties are to be paid for business-to-consumer parcels under the Windsor Framework facilitations. Improvements to the Duty Reimbursement Scheme for Northern Ireland businesses since May 2026 were recognised, and the EU measure on steel from July 2026 was welcomed for providing the same volumes for UK-origin steel moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland as the previous solution. The co-chairs also highlighted the need to ensure proper implementation of all aspects of the Windsor Framework arrangements in the customs area.
The Enhanced Coordination Mechanism on VAT and Excise held its second meeting, discussing ongoing bilateral work on VAT under the framework. The committee reiterated the importance of continued joint engagement with Northern Ireland business and civic society stakeholders.