The transition period set out in the Brexit Withdrawal Period is set to come to an end on December 31 next. At that point, a lot of things will change – with or without a trade deal in place.

This will impact on the movement of second-hand machinery to and from the island of Britain (i.e. England, Scotland and Wales).

As things stand, the Northern Ireland protocol in the withdrawal agreement means the regulation will not apply to machinery moving across the border.

In light of this, the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) has issued guidance to its members on what to expect from January 1, 2021.

Gary Ryan, the chief executive of the FTMTA, told the association’s members that a regulation from September of last year covering soil cultivation and preparation machinery has been updated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine this week to include a wider range of equipment.

The FTMTA noted that it will be necessary for any business importing or exporting used machinery of the above categories to or from non-EU member states – which will include the island of Britain from January 1 – to adhere to a number of requirements.

In his communication to FTMTA members, Ryan said: “While the new requirements will undoubtedly put an additional administrative burden on businesses engaged in such trade, I can see a benefit in that such regulations will definitely impact on private importers of machinery to quite an extent, and will hopefully serve to drive such purchasers towards buying locally.”