Moving licensed goods into or out of Northern Ireland

Last updated 29 May 2025

From 28 June 2025, license data on a declaration will be verified by a system called the Certificates Exchange System (CERTEX) for Northern Ireland. This replaces the previous Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS).

There will be no change to the system you use for entering information in your declaration and license.

The format for entering license information may change.

If you move licensed goods into or out of Northern Ireland by import, export or transit

You must make sure the information on your declaration matches the information on the relevant licence or certification. If it does not match, your haulier may need to report for inspection.

You can find further information if you move goods using the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS).

Licensed goods that are eligible to move under the UK Internal Market Scheme can be moved using the Internal Market Movements process. 

You can also find out more about moving licensed goods as parcels.

What you should do with your declarations

You should make sure the information you provide on your declaration matches the licence or certificate for the goods you are moving into or out of Northern Ireland.

If there is a problem with your declaration or goods

You will receive a notification from the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) if there is a problem with your declaration or goods. For example, when

• a valid certificate or licence for your goods cannot be found (this will be checked at the pre-lodgement stage)
• there is a mismatch between the data supplied on your declaration and the relevant licence or certificate (during the crossing)
• your licence has insufficient quantity remaining (during the crossing, only applicable to certain licenses)

Before your goods arrive, you should

• check your supporting licence
• amend your declaration, if you need to
• respond to any messages you receive from CDS

If your software does not allow you to amend your declaration, you need to cancel your declaration and submit a new one. 

If you’re using the Trader Support Service (TSS) for your licensed goods movements, you should contact them to help you.

How to complete certain Data elements (DE) on your declaration

Mismatches between your licensed goods and your declaration can cause delays to your goods movements.

You can read more information on licences and document codes.

Data element — 2/3 Common Health Entry Document

The Common Health Entry Document (CHED) reference format must be letters followed by numbers and include the full stop character. For example, ‘CHEDA.XI.2025.1234567’.

If the reference is not completed correctly

• the licence cannot be validated
• your declaration will be rejected
• you will not receive a Movement Reference Number (MRN) and will not be able to continue moving your goods

Data element — 6/1 Net Mass

You should make sure this data element on your declaration matches the licence.

Data element — 6/2 Supplementary Units/SW Measurement Unit Code

You should make sure this data element on your declaration matches the licence.

Data element — 6/14 and 6/15 Commodity Codes

You should make sure this data element on your declaration matches the licence.

In all cases, if the information does not match, then your goods may be subject to a hold or an inspection when it arrives in Northern Ireland.

If you need to report for an inspection

If you are a driver or haulier and you may need to report for an inspection

Your inspection status will be one of the following

• inspection needed — unless you are told otherwise, you need to report to either or both of the following
  • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland (DAERA) facility
  • Border Force facility
• no inspection needed — you do not need to report to a DAERA or Border Force facility for inspection
• your inspection status is not ready yet — a decision has not been made on your goods and you should await confirmation

If you need an inspection, the GVMS will tell you which DAERA or Border Force facility to report to.

You can find more information on

Further information and support

The following is a list of certificates to which the checks apply along with the relevant document code

If you need more support you can