Windsor Framework: NI Brexit deal committee meet in Brussels

Checks on goods at Northern Ireland ports will be reduced under the new deal

One of the bodies overseeing the implementation of the Windsor Framework has met in Brussels to take stock of progress.

The Specialised Committee is made up of senior officials from the UK and EU.

In a joint statement they said they welcomed the adoption by the EU of legislation in the areas of agri-food, medicines, tariff rate quotas and customs.

The framework was agreed in February.

It is intended to ease post-Brexit trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The deal modifies the Northern Ireland Protocol, the 2019 agreement which kept Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods.

That arrangement kept the Irish land border open but has meant products arriving into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are subject to checks and controls.

The new deal should reduce the frictions on GB-to-NI trade, primarily by expanding a trusted trader scheme and introducing a system of green lanes and red lanes at Northern Ireland ports.

Earlier this month the UK published new information and guidance on how the Windsor Framework will operate for businesses.

The joint statement said the two sides also welcomed the first meeting of the Enhanced Coordination Mechanism on VAT and Excise which took place last week and confirmed an intention to organise the first meeting of the Special Body on Goods.

Some business groups remain concerned that implementation of the deal on the current timetable will be difficult.

The red lane/ green lane system is supposed to begin operating in October.

The joint statement said both sides "recognised the importance of making available additional stakeholder guidance in due course".