The Windsor Framework

This document outlines the implications of the Windsor Framework on your shipping operations, the data required for creating compliant shipment labels, and the necessary steps to ensure continued compliance.

Last updated 4 months ago

Overview

The Windsor Framework is a bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) that governs the trade relationship between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) following Brexit. This framework replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol and is designed to simplify customs procedures while ensuring that Northern Ireland retains access to the EU Single Market.

What Is the Windsor Framework?

The Windsor Framework introduces new customs and trade regulations that govern the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Key aspects of the framework include:

Simplified Customs Procedures: The level of customs data required depends on the trade category:
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C),
- Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C),
- Business-to-Business (B2B).
Green and Red Lanes:
- Green Lane: Goods that are deemed "not at risk" of entering the EU will be subject to simplified checks and fewer customs requirements.
- Red Lane: Goods considered "at risk" of entering the EU will require a full customs declaration, including additional details to ensure compliance with EU regulations.
Timelines: Initial changes were scheduled to take effect by 30 September 2024, with full compliance expected by 31 March 2025. However, timelines remain subject to UK government updates.

Please refer to the official HMRC guidance for the latest updates, UK government’s official guidance.

How the Framework Affects Your Shipping Process with Voila

When shipping from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, additional data is required in shipment label requests to ensure accurate customs declarations and correct routing. Data requirements vary between B2C/C2C and B2B shipments.

For B2C and C2C Shipments

Basic Consignment Data:
- Sender and recipient names, addresses, and contact details
- Parcel weight and total consignment value
- A plain English description of the shipment contents
Customs Formalities: B2C shipments typically require simpler customs data when following UK Carrier Scheme guidelines, provided the goods are not at risk of entering the EU.

For B2B Shipments

B2B shipments require more detailed data so that your shipment can be classified as either “green lane” (not at risk) or “red lane” (at risk). In addition to the basic consignment data, you must provide:

Mandatory Fields:
- Sale Type: Specify whether the shipment is B2B or B2C
- Number of Pieces and Total Value: Comprehensive details of the goods.
- Commodity Details:
  - Commodity codes (HS codes) – 6 or 10 digits, as required.
  - Descriptions, quantities, unit weights, and unit values
  - Country of manufacture
  - Deferment account details (if applicable for customs charges).
UKIMS Number: Either the sender’s or recipient’s UKIMS number is required.
EORI Number: The sender’s EORI number is mandatory.
Clearance Declaration Details: These details differ based on the lane:
- Green Lane (Not at risk): Only minimal extra data is needed when UKIMS details are included.
- Red Lane (At risk): Requires a full international dataset, similar to an H1 declaration, along with additional customs information and may be subject to EU duties.

Data Fields Required When Creating Shipping Labels on Voila

Please check the courier requirements table for the couriers that you are using to fully comply with the courier requirements for the Windsor Framework:

To ensure compliance with the Windsor Framework, the following key fields must be included in shipment label data:

Core Data Fields

Sale Type: Identifies whether the shipment is B2B, B2C, C2C, or C2B.
Commodity Details (for B2B Shipments):
- Commodity Code (HS Code).
- Detailed Description: quantity, unit weight, unit value, country of origin.
- UKIMS Number: shipper and/or recipient.
- EORI Numbers: shipper’s EORI required; recipient’s EORI required if UKIMS details are included.
- Additional Commodity Details: as required by the carrier.

Our documentation will be continuously updated as new regulations emerge, including carrier-specific compliance requirements.

Courier Requirements

⚠️ Note: These requirements may change. Please check with your courier to ensure you’re using the most up-to-date Windsor Framework fields.

Fields/Courier	RoyalMail	Whistl	RoyalMail ClickAndDrop	Yodel
Supported Sales Types:	B2B / B2C	B2B / B2C	B2B / B2C	B2C
courier.sale_type	Required	Required	Required	N/A
ship_to.ukims_number	Required for B2B shipments unless ship_from.ukims number isn't entered	N/A	Required for B2B shipments unless ship_from.ukims number isn't entered	N/A
ship_from.ukims_number	Required for B2B shipments	N/A	Required for B2B shipments	N/A
ship_to.eori_number	Required for B2B if ship_to.ukims number is entered for B2B	N/A	It is required for B2B if ship_to.ukims number is entered for B2B	N/A
ship_from.eori_number	Required for B2B	N/A	Required for B2B	N/A
item.sku	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.quantity	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.description	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.value	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.currency	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.origin_country	Required	Required	Required	Optional
item.hs_code	Required	Required	Required	Optional
item.weight	Required	Required	Required	Optional
courier.export_reason	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
courier.sender_deferment_account	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Note	Either ship_to UKIMS or ship_from.ukims number is required for B2B shipments	UKIMS and EORI numbers should be configured on Whistl interface	Either ship_to UKIMS or ship_from.ukims number is required for B2B shipments

Fields/Courier	Evri Corporate	Hermes Corporate	DPD UK	DPD Local	DPD Ireland
Supported Sales Types:	B2C / C2C / C2B	B2C / C2C / C2B	B2B, B2C, C2C	B2B, B2C, C2C	B2B, B2C, C2C
courier.sale_type	N/A	N/A	Required	Required	Required
ship_to.ukims_number	N/A	N/A	Required for B2B shipments unless ship_from.ukims number isn't entered	Required for B2B shipments unless ship_from.ukims number isn't entered	Required for B2B shipments unless ship_from.ukims number isn't entered
ship_from.ukims_number	N/A	N/A	Required for B2B shipments if not at-risk goods	Required for B2B shipments if not at-risk goods	Required for B2B shipments if not at-risk goods
ship_from.vat_number	N/A	N/A	Required for B2B At Risk Goods	Required for B2B At Risk Goods	Required for B2B At Risk Goods
ship_to.vat_number	N/A	N/A	Required for B2B At Risk Goods if ship_from.vat_number not entered	Required for B2B At Risk Goods if ship_from.vat_number not entered	Required for B2B At Risk Goods if ship_from.vat_number not entered
ship_to.eori_number	N/A	N/A	Required for B2B if ship_to.ukims number is entered for B2B	Required for B2B if ship_to.ukims number is entered for B2B	Required for B2B if ship_to.ukims number is entered for B2B
ship_from.eori_number	N/A	N/A	Required for B2B	Required for B2B	Required for B2B
item.sku	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.quantity	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.description	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.value	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.currency	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
item.origin_country	Required	Required	Optional for B2C&C2C but Required for B2B	Optional for B2C&C2C but Required for B2B	Optional for B2C&C2C but Required for B2B
item.hs_code	Required	Required	Optional for B2C&C2C but Required for B2B	Optional for B2C&C2C but Required for B2B	Optional for B2C&C2C but Required for B2B
item.weight	Required	Required	Required	Required	Required
courier.at_risk	N/A	N/A	Required	Required	Required
courier.export_reason	N/A	N/A	N/A		TBD
courier.sender_deferment_account	N/A	N/A	N/A		TBD
Note					TBD

Fields/Courier	RoyalMailIntersoft	ProCarrier	Hermes	DHLParcelUKCloud
Supported Sales Types:	B2B / B2C	TBD	B2C / C2C / C2B	B2C / B2B / C2C / C2B
courier.sale_type	Required	TBD	N/A	Required
ship_to.ukims_number	Required for B2B shipments unless ship_from.ukims number isn't entered	TBD	N/A	Required for C2B. Required for B2B if ship_from.ukims is not entered
ship_from.ukims_number	Required for B2B shipments	TBD	N/A	Required for B2B
ship_to.eori_number	Required for B2B if ship_to.ukims number is entered for B2B	TBD	N/A	Required for C2B. Required if ship_to.ukims is entered
ship_from.eori_number	Required for B2B	TBD	N/A	Required for B2B
item.sku	Required	TBD	Required	Required
item.quantity	Required	TBD	Required	Required
item.description	Required	TBD	Required	Required
item.value	Required	TBD	Required	Required
item.currency	Required	TBD	Required	Required
item.origin_country	Required	TBD	Required	Optional
item.hs_code	Required	TBD	Optional	Optional
item.weight	Required	TBD	Required	Required
courier.export_reason	N/A	TBD	N/A	Required for B2B
courier.sender_deferment_account	N/A	TBD	N/A	Required for B2B
Note	Either ship_to UKIMS or ship_from.ukims number is required for B2B shipments	TBD	B2B isn't supported by Evri so there is no need for UKIMS and EORI Number

Fields/Courier	DHLParcelUK	SecuredMail	Fedex	DPDC2C
Supported Sales Types:	B2C / B2B / C2C / C2B	B2B / B2C / C2B	TBD	TBD
courier.sale_type	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
ship_to.ukims_number	Required for C2B. Required for B2B if ship_from.ukims is not entered	Required for B2B shipments unless ship_from.ukims number isn't entered or Required for C2B shipments	TBD	TBD
ship_from.ukims_number	Required for B2B	Required for B2B shipments	TBD	TBD
ship_to.eori_number	Required for C2B. Required if ship_to.ukims is entered	Not Required	TBD	TBD
ship_from.eori_number	Required for B2B	Not Required	TBD	TBD
item.sku	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
item.quantity	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
item.description	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
item.value	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
item.currency	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
item.origin_country	Optional	Required	TBD	TBD
item.hs_code	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
item.weight	Required	Required	TBD	TBD
parcel.dim_width	Not Required	Required	TBD	TBD
dim_height	Not Required	Required	TBD	TBD
dim_length	Not Required	Required	TBD	TBD
dim_unit	Not Required	Required	TBD	TBD
courier.export_reason	Required for B2B	Required	TBD	TBD
courier.sender_deferment_account	Required for B2B	N/A	TBD	TBD
Note			TBD	TBD

Fields/Courier	Huxloe	DGInternational	CollectPlus	PPI
Supported Sales Types:	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
courier.sale_type	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
ship_to.ukims_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
ship_from.ukims_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
ship_to.eori_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
ship_from.eori_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.sku	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.quantity	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.description	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.value	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.currency	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.origin_country	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.hs_code	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
item.weight	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
courier.export_reason	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
courier.sender_deferment_account	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
Note	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

Fields/Courier	Starlinks	UPS	ArrowXL	ParcelHub	GFS
Supported Sales Types:	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required for B2B (Green & Red lane) shipments and exports outside the EU. Optional for B2C.
courier.sale_type	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	B2B
ship_to.ukims_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required for B2B "Not at Risk" shipments
ship_from.ukims_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required for B2B "Not at Risk" shipments
ship_to.eori_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required
ship_from.eori_number	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required for B2B "At Risk" shipments (optional but recommended)
item.sku	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Optional
item.quantity	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required
item.description	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required
item.value	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Optional
item.currency	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Optional
item.origin_country	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Optional
item.hs_code	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required for B2B "At Risk", optional for "Not at Risk" but recommended
item.weight	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Required
courier.export_reason	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Optional
courier.sender_deferment_account	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Optional
Note	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Optional

⚠️ Disclaimer on Windsor Framework Courier Requirements

The requirements listed for each courier under the Windsor Framework are based on the latest available information as of the time of writing. However, these requirements are subject to change as couriers update their systems and procedures in line with ongoing UK-EU regulatory developments.
We strongly recommend that you verify the current requirements directly with your courier or shipping platform before dispatching goods - particularly for shipments involving Northern Ireland, B2B exports, or movements classified as "At Risk"/"Not at Risk."
For the most accurate and up-to-date guidance, please consult:
Your courier’s technical documentation or support team
HMRC or UK Government resources related to the Windsor Framework

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