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Guidance

Movement Assistance Scheme: get help with moving agrifood goods to Northern Ireland

This scheme closed on 30 June 2025. New claims related to movements that occur after 30 June 2025 will not be accepted.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published:
2 March 2021
Last updated:
4 July 2025
Show all updates

  1. The Movement Assistance Scheme closed on 30 June 2025. New claims related to movements that occur after 30 June 2025 will not be accepted.

  2. Amended 'Certifiers: detailed guidance on getting reimbursed' – changed how much you can claim from a flat rate of £150 excluding VAT plus testing costs for each non-equine EHC, to a flat rate of £75; and changed a flat rate of £325 excluding VAT for each equine EHC, to a flat rate of £162.50.

  3. We've amended the amount that official veterinarians or certifying officers can claim for export health certificate service costs. We've also amended information relating to the costs for export health certificates when moving live animals or animal products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

  4. Added a link to the Movement Assistance Scheme terms and conditions in the 'Certifiers: claim money for inspecting and certifying goods' guidance.

  5. Updated the documents with new fee information.

  6. The closing date for the Movement Assistance Scheme has been extended to 30 June 2025.

  7. Added a link to the reimbursement of Brucella ovis testing costs application form.

  8. Updated the example of a test included in the MAS, Brucella ovis. Updated the guidance for traders on how to claim for Brucella ovis testing costs under the MAS. Updated the guidance for certifiers on how to claim for Brucella ovis testing costs and support attestations under the MAS.

  9. We've added how to claim some scrapie qualifying status costs back if you have scrapie qualifying status.

  10. Information added to explain how traders can get reimbursed for costs of getting support attestations for movements of agri-food goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland from 27 September 2021.

  11. We've updated the guidance for traders and certifiers. Traders can receive financial support for the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) sample testing and certification costs required for all individual seed lots traded from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Exporters in Great Britain can receive financial support to meet new costs if they move organics to Northern Ireland only. Importers in Northern Ireland can also get financial support to meet new costs they incur to receive these goods from Great Britain.

  12. A trader moving agrifood goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland does not need to pay for some inspections and certificates or some other costs.

  13. Added that some categories of high risk food and feed not of animal origin as goods now included in the scheme.

  14. First published.

This publication was withdrawn on

The Movement Assistance Scheme closed on 30 June 2025.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Traders: how to get advice and which costs are covered

HTML

Certifiers: claim money for inspecting and certifying goods

HTML

Certifiers: detailed guidance on getting reimbursed

HTML

Sample invoice

PDF, 95.8 KB, 1 page

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Details

The Movement Assistance Scheme closed on 30 June 2025. New claims related to movements that occur after 30 June 2025 will not be accepted.

The Movement Assistance Scheme meant that if you’re:

  • a trader moving agrifood goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, you did not need to pay for some inspections and certificates or some other costs you incur because of the Northern Ireland Protocol and subsequently the Windsor Framework
  • an official veterinarian or other certifier, you did not charge for some inspections, certificates and some other costs, such as a scrapie or Brucella ovis test – you were able to invoice the government up to a set amount

The following types of goods were included in the Movement Assistance Scheme:

  • live animals and animal products
  • plants and plant products
  • some categories of high risk food and feed not of animal origin
  • organic products

Find out about labelling requirements under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

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