With the UK government expected to set out a very liberal approach to what goods will be allowed to move from NI to Britain without any checks or tariffs from 1 January 2021, it has created alarm within the local food processing sector.
The major concern is that the reputation of NI agri-food will be damaged, as the market in Britain is gradually undermined by cheap food imports that have transited through NI.
It is understood that the initial proposal made by the UK government was that any business with an address in NI would have unfettered access to the market in Britain. That potentially means a large multinational food company could set up an office here, and be able to operate freely into Britain.
A second proposal involved any good that moved though a NI port, so in effect, any beef in the EU could move to NI, and then into Britain without checks or tariffs.
The NI food industry reacted in horror at these proposals, and over the last two months has been working on an agreed position to put to government on what should be classed as a ‘qualifying good’ for unfettered access to the market Britain from 1 January 2021.
NI processors have focused on two main principles. The first is that a qualifying good should be any animal product originating in NI, in Britain, or that has entered the UK with full customs duty paid.
The second is that a qualifying good should come from a qualifying business, which is a business that is manufacturing and processing in NI, and under the control of DAERA and the Food Standards Agency.
There are however, some sector-specific, additional proposals suggested, that allow for the fact that not all supply chains are the same. For example, in in some sectors there is not enough processing capacity in NI, so product must move across the Irish border before potentially being sold into the market in Britain.
On beef and pigs, it is understood that live imports from the Republic of Ireland, and slaughtered in NI, would be seen as qualifying goods.
In the event of a trade deal between the UK and EU that involves zero tariffs, there is less incentive for some companies to push goods through NI.
Ends
The second is that a qualifying good should come from a qualifying business, which is a business that is manufacturing and processing in NI, and under the control of DAERA and the Food Standards Agency.
Read more
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Time running out for NI brexit checks
With the UK government expected to set out a very liberal approach to what goods will be allowed to move from NI to Britain without any checks or tariffs from 1 January 2021, it has created alarm within the local food processing sector.
The major concern is that the reputation of NI agri-food will be damaged, as the market in Britain is gradually undermined by cheap food imports that have transited through NI.
It is understood that the initial proposal made by the UK government was that any business with an address in NI would have unfettered access to the market in Britain. That potentially means a large multinational food company could set up an office here, and be able to operate freely into Britain.
A second proposal involved any good that moved though a NI port, so in effect, any beef in the EU could move to NI, and then into Britain without checks or tariffs.
The NI food industry reacted in horror at these proposals, and over the last two months has been working on an agreed position to put to government on what should be classed as a ‘qualifying good’ for unfettered access to the market Britain from 1 January 2021.
NI processors have focused on two main principles. The first is that a qualifying good should be any animal product originating in NI, in Britain, or that has entered the UK with full customs duty paid.
The second is that a qualifying good should come from a qualifying business, which is a business that is manufacturing and processing in NI, and under the control of DAERA and the Food Standards Agency.
There are however, some sector-specific, additional proposals suggested, that allow for the fact that not all supply chains are the same. For example, in in some sectors there is not enough processing capacity in NI, so product must move across the Irish border before potentially being sold into the market in Britain.
On beef and pigs, it is understood that live imports from the Republic of Ireland, and slaughtered in NI, would be seen as qualifying goods.
In the event of a trade deal between the UK and EU that involves zero tariffs, there is less incentive for some companies to push goods through NI.
Ends
The second is that a qualifying good should come from a qualifying business, which is a business that is manufacturing and processing in NI, and under the control of DAERA and the Food Standards Agency.
Read more
£300,000 UK vet fund for export health certificates
Time running out for NI brexit checks
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