How to import polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware from China and Hong Kong into Northern Ireland.
There are specific conditions and procedures for the import of polyamide and of melamine plastic kitchenware originating in or consigned from China and Hong Kong into Northern Ireland (NI) set up by Commission Regulation (EU) No 284/2011.
Import conditions
To import plastic kitchenware originating in or consigned from China and Hong Kong into Northern Ireland you will need to submit to the district council for each consignment a declaration and a laboratory report confirming that it meets the requirements concerning the release of primary aromatic amines and formaldehyde. This is also necessary if these goods are imported into Great Britain (GB) and then moved into NI.
Import procedures
You must pre-notify the district council at the Port at least two working days in advance of the estimated date and time of physical arrival of consignments. The Chinese kitchenware consignments originating in, or consigned from, China and Hong Kong or transferred via GB must then enter NI via a Port approved to receive these commodities.
You should email the prenotification to the district council at the point of entry (POE) where your consignment will be entering NI. The approved POEs in NI are:
- Belfast Port: porthealth@belfastcity.gov.uk
- Larne Port: porthealth@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
- Warrenpoint Port: PortHealth@nmandd.org
The declaration form that must be emailed to the relevant POE's district council can be found in the Annex of Commission Regulation (EU) No 284/2011.
All consignments will receive a documentary check. The legislation requires that 10% of consignments will also be subject to a combined identity and physical check, which involves a sampling process.
During the sampling process the consignment will be held under customs control, pending laboratory result. The European Commission has issued guidance on the import of plastic kitchenware from China and Hong Kong.