Farmers’ union calls for more clarity over a ‘bureaucratic’ deal

THE Ulster Farmers’ Union has branded Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal “complex and bureaucratic”.

While it said that a no-deal must be avoided, the UFU warned there were “more questions than answers” about the agreement reached on Thursday.

The plan would create a single regulatory market on the island of Ireland but bring checks on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Britain.

The Dairy Council, which represents farmers in Northern Ireland’s biggest sector in agriculture, has also said a no-deal Brexit would place the livelihoods of 3,000 dairy farmers here “on the line”.

The UFU had been in favour of former Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement and the backstop, which placed it in opposition to the DUP.

In its first assessment of the plans, the UFU said yesterday: “More clarity is needed about how this new deal would work.

“While the proposals appear to address concerns around regulations and tariffs, our initial assessment deemed the plans complex and bureaucratic.

“In particular, we need clarity and detail around Northern Ireland’s access to EU trade deals once the transition period ends.

“If we are excluded, this would have a significant impact on trade between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.”

It also said more certainty was needed on Northern Ireland’s unfettered access to the Britain market.

The union, which remained neutral in the run-up to the Brexit referendum of June 2016, added: “Our key objective from day one has been to secure trade that is as free and frictionless as possible east/west and north/south.

“A no-deal, however, remains the worst possible outcome for Northern Ireland’s family-run farm businesses and must be avoided.”

However, Aodhan Connolly,

the director of the NI Retail Consortium, said it was “encouraging” to see the deal.

“Retailers and consumers have long weathered under Brexit uncertainty and each passing day represents time, money and effort that struggling retailers can ill afford. With the Brexit clock still ticking down to a chaotic nodeal, it is finally time to take this risk off the table for good.”

Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) chairman Brian Irwin welcomed the deal and said a no-deal Brexit would be fatal to the industry.

“We have lobbied consistently, at all levels, to make it clear that a no-deal Brexit is unthinkable for the food industry,” he said.

“We cannot entertain it. As an industry we cannot operate with a border on the island of Ireland, nor can we absorb tariffs to export to Europe.”

Of all sections of the farming industry, dairy farmers are likely to be the most exposed to the effects of a no-deal Brexit.

The Dairy Council NI said there are not enough facilities in the UK to process the amount of milk produced here, with 35% of it currently being processed in the Republic.