THE National Sheep Association (NSA) is outraged by the situation faced by sheep breeders in Northern Ireland (NI) and those on the UK mainland who are involved in mainland/NI breeding stock trade. Each year between 9,000 and 18,000 sheep of high value are moved between NI and mainland Great Britain, some being multi-thousand pounds rams of high genetic value. On an industry scale this may be considered small but for individuals affected the restrictions on movements to be imposed from 1st January will be life changing. NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Since Brexit negotiations began, there has always been a commitment, and it has always been NSA’s understanding, there would be ‘free and frictionless’ trade between GB and NI.
New rules affecting GB-NI sheep trade will be catastrophic
19 December 2020 |
Northern Irish farmers rely heavily on sourcing breeding stock from the British mainland
Looming restrictions affecting the trade of sheep between the British mainland and Northern Ireland will create catastrophic consequences for the sector, a body has warned.
Following the release of the NI command paper on 10 December, all movements of live animals between GB and NI will be classified as an EU movement.
Sheep industry groups fear the restrictions on movements, to be imposed from 1 January 2021, would add more bureaucracy and red tape to a sector already fearful of Brexit.
December 19, 2020 7:00 am
The National Sheep Association (NSA) in the UK has said it is “outraged” by the situation faced by sheep breeders in Northern Ireland and those on the UK mainland who are involved in mainland and Northern Ireland breeding stock trade.
The NSA said that each year between 9,000 and 18,000 sheep of high value are moved between Northern Ireland and mainland Great Britain, some being multi-thousand pound rams of high genetic value.
On an industry scale this may be considered small but for individuals affected, the restrictions on movements to be imposed from January 1 will be “life changing”, according to the NSA.