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A UK government minister has confirmed that the Irish Sea border for food and agricultural products is slated to remain in place until 2027.
The Irish Sea border refers to the post-Brexit checks and controls applied to products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
In May, the UK and EU reached an agreement in principle that, upon implementation, would eliminate physical inspections of GB food products at NI ports.
While the implementation timeline had been unclear, EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds provided an update in a speech on Wednesday, stating that further negotiations with the EU are anticipated in the autumn, with UK legislation planned for 2026 and implementation in 2027.
The proposed deal hinges on the UK’s commitment to align with EU agri-food regulations, effectively restoring a unified regulatory framework between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
This alignment would eliminate the paperwork and inspections for food shipments from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that have been in effect since 2021.
The agreement also encompasses trade in horticultural products, including seeds and garden plants.
Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of NI Chamber, characterized the proposed deal as “a significant step forward in addressing trade barriers.”
Wylie affirmed NI Chamber’s support for the “ambition” but emphasized the need for the government to “move quickly.”
“The proposed timeframe presents challenges for businesses adapting to recent implementation phases of the Windsor Framework. We urge the UK government to provide immediate, practical support to agri-food supply chains navigating these challenges today – not just in anticipation of future agreements,” she stated.
Wylie also indicated that NI Chamber is reiterating calls for the government to “go further for Northern Ireland’s businesses.”
“We want to see a comprehensive review, with the EU, of the criteria used to determine whether goods coming into Northern Ireland are ‘at risk’ of entering the EU,” she added.
Northern Ireland’s existing trading arrangement stems from a Brexit deal between the EU and UK in 2019, subsequently revised in 2023 and now known as the Windsor Framework.
Both parties agreed that maintaining an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland necessitated Northern Ireland adhering to numerous EU laws governing the regulation of goods.
Consequently, goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are subject to checks and controls to ensure compliance with EU regulations.
This arrangement has become known as the Irish Sea border.
The arrangement has particularly impacted the food industry, given that Northern Ireland supermarkets are largely supplied from distribution centers in England and Scotland.
New border control posts have been constructed at NI ports to facilitate inspections of food products arriving from GB.
The new deal is expected to significantly mitigate the impact of the Irish Sea border on food and plants by eliminating regulatory disparities between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
However, it will not eliminate the need for customs paperwork.
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