Sausages and mince from GB now need a certificate to enter NI
Latest red tape associated with the protocol comes into effect today
ANOTHER layer of Brexit red tape associated with the Northern Ireland Protocol has come into effect, with health certificates on Great British sausages and mince now required.
The UK Government-designed export health certificates to allow such products to enter Northern Ireland are only temporary, as from July 1 they are set to be banned from the region altogether under strict EU laws on animal and plant health.
Sausages, mince and pate-type products made in GB are currently only allowed into Northern Ireland under the terms of a six-month grace period.
That will expire at the end of June unless the EU and UK can strike a deal on the issue in the interim.
Bans on other GB agri-food products — including seed potatoes, certain seeds, and plants potted in soil — have already been in force since the start of the year.
Under the terms of the protocol, which governs the movement of goods in and out of the region post-brexit, all non-prohibited agri-food goods arriving from GB require an EU export health certificate (EHC) declaring that they pose no risk.
They are a consequence of a Brexit deal that has resulted in Northern Ireland remaining in the EU single market for goods while the rest of the UK has left that regulatory zone.
There are hundreds of different types of EHCS, with different forms for different products — and some products having multiple certificate versions.
As sausages and other chilled meat products are not ordinarily allowed to be imported into the EU under the bloc’s tight SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) regulations, there is not an EHC covering those goods. As a result, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has developed its own temporary version, to satisfy EU requirements during the six month grace period when their import is still permitted.
There was no initial requirement for certifications on these restricted products when the protocol came into operation on December 31 after the Brexit transition period ended.
Today that changed, with traders now requiring Defra’s version of an EHC for sausages and mince.
Aside from those prohibited list items, from December 31 EHCS have been required for non-retail agri-food products entering Northern Ireland from GB.
That has included unprocessed food stuffs such as chicken carcasses, tankers of milk and sides of beef — being imported into the region to undergo processing.
Retail products have been exempted from this requirement under a grace period that will expire on April 1.
From that date, Gb-made agrifood products that are usually found on supermarket and shop shelves in Northern Ireland will need an EHC to be shipped to the region.
This includes all food of animal origin, some foods of non-animal origin (nuts, spices etc), live plants, other plantbased products and fish. Live animals and animal based food products require a vet to sign off the EHCS.
During the three month grace period for retail produce, traders have instead been asked to complete a single operator declaration for each lorry-load of goods crossing the Irish Sea.
This is signed by a representative of the company shipping the goods, declaring that they comply with EU standards and regulations. The shipping requirements will increase dramatically from April 1 when EHCS will be required for individual agri-food product lines on a lorry.
Products going to multiple destinations will also require multiple certifications.
‘Retail products have been exempted from this requirement under a grace period’
POLICE are hunting two men after an elderly man in his 80s was attacked and his Banbridge home ransacked in what police have described as a “despicable” attack.
The two thugs forced their way into the pensioner’s home in Granville Gardens in the Co Down town on Saturday evening.
The elderly man was upstairs when the two suspects entered his bedroom.
The heavier of the two men pinned the victim on his bed and, as the elderly man tried to defend himself, he was injured in a struggle, sustaining cuts to his arm.
The robbers made off with the victim’s wallet, gardening equipment and two phones.
One of the suspects is described as being of a heavy build; the other of a thin build.
The victim had to be treated in hospital following the attack.
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said the attackers were “two bad animals”.
“They ripped out the kitchen window, ransacked the house and physically assaulted an 88-year-old man in the house,” shesaid
“They held him down in his bed as they ransacked the house and made off with some valuables.
“The family of the deceased lady and her partner, the gentleman who was attacked, are shocked, devastated and angry that two men would carry out such a brutal attack and robbery.”
“These individuals need to face the full force of the law,” she said.
Local councillor Jill Macauley said: “This terrible incident must have been terrifying for him and I hope that the animals who did this are caught and feel the full force of our justice system.
“I hope that the gentleman involved fully recovers after this, both physically and emotionally, as I’ve no doubt that this disgusting crime will have a lasting impact on both him and his family.”
Detective Sergeant James Johnston said: “This was a nasty, despicable attack on the victim.
“The suspects chose to attack a vulnerable man and subjected him to a horrendous ordeal. It must have been terrifying for him.
“I’m appealing to anyone who knows any information about this disgusting crime to get in touch with our detectives in Lurgan on 101, and quote reference number 1584 of 20/02/21.”