Despite the UK government signing up to an Irish protocol as part of the EU withdrawal agreement that would involve checks and potential tariffs on goods entering NI from Britain, agriculture minister Edwin Poots has insisted that the deal must be changed.

Speaking in the Stormont Assembly chamber this week, the DUP politician told MLAs that neither he nor his Scottish counterpart will accept any checks at ports in either region, given that it could disrupt the “just-in-time delivery” so crucial to agri-food supply chains.

“I welcome the UK Government looking for further changes to the protocol. If it is not changed, there will be a consequence for every business in NI, and there will be a consequence for every consumer in NI,” said minister Poots.

He went on to suggest that the Irish government had not acted in the best interests of its people during Brexit negotiations, insisting that instead he wants to see a “sensible arrangement” involving NI, Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Solution

The main solution for everyone would be a free trade deal involving zero quotas and zero tariffs between the UK and EU, something which minister Poots described as “highly desirable” for NI.

He also stated his preference for standards to be maintained in the British market, to minimise competition from imports.

However, the minister stopped short of saying that only food produced to the same standard as required of UK farmers should be allowed into the market (a key demand of farm lobby groups).

Negotiations

Instead, he explained that negotiations with other countries could end up with the UK importing food of a different standard, suggesting that if people want to buy it for a lower price, “that is entirely up to them”.

Instead, he wants it to be clearly labelled.

“It needs to be up there in lights that it is food that has not been produced to the same high standard as ours,” the minister told MLAs.

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