BBC News
By John Campbell
Published
image captionThe EU has strict rules on products of animal origin such as meat, milk, fish and eggs
The government has given more details of which businesses will be eligible for the grace period for new Irish Sea border processes.
Food businesses are being given three months to adapt their systems.
From 1 January, Northern Ireland will stay in the EU single market for goods, but the rest of the UK will leave.
It means food products arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain will be subject to EU processes.
image captionProducts of animal origin arriving in NI will need an Export Health Certificate signed by a vet or other qualified person
A lorry driver views the queue of lorries on the M20 as lorries wait to enter the Eurotunnel site in Folkestone, Kent, due to heavy freight traffic. Credit: PA
The UK’s largest supermarkets have told the government that they don’t believe its Trader Support Service will be working in time for the end of transition and have urged it to find another way to ensure they can supply their shops in Northern Ireland in the new year.
Every week Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Co-op and Iceland send tens of thousands of product lines across the Irish Sea from the British mainland.
Brexit: Mounting anxiety in the UK meat sector over red tape and extra costs The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) is calling on the UK government to negotiate an ‘orientation phase’ starting from January 1 next year that can be staggered over the coming 12 months, with it citing a lack of preparation on behalf of officials for businesses on the UK’s exit from the EU.
Such a stop gap would give the sector the time to fill in all the missing detail on how trade with the EU will work, and gradually introduce the changes, said the UK meat processing industry representatives.
“Everyone who imports fresh fruit and veg is holding their breath,” she said. “None of us know what is going to happen, but all of us are expecting damaging delays and significant price increases. “The fresh food supply chain survived COVID, but it may not withstand the first few months of Brexit. Unfortunately, you can’t stockpile fresh food.” The local considerations section of the council’s Brexit report reads: “Our key contracted suppliers are confident that mitigation measures put in place will support the initial period post transition with respect to deliveries of orders from Europe, but, owing to friction caused by new processes and procedures at the UK/EU border, these may take longer than usual.
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There are new requirements for moving live animals, products of animal origin, plants and plant products (agrifood goods) from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland (
NI).
MAS) means that if you’re a:
trader moving live animals and other animal or plant products including organic products, you do not need to pay to have them inspected and certified
official veterinarian or other certifier, you must not charge for inspecting and certifying - you can invoice the government for the costs
Government inspectors will not charge for inspecting and certifying plants or plant products.
The scheme also covers movements to