No cakewalk for bakers
What the new breakthrough means for manufacturers
Q Can a baker make and sell a cake in Northern Ireland that does not conform to EU standards?
A It depends on where the baker intends to sell their product. If the product is going to be consumed in Northern Ireland or Great Britain, the cake can be made to conform with rules and regulations set in Westminster. To do this they would need to offer a degree of assurance that the cake will not be sold in the EU’S market. If the baker wants to sell their cake in the EU’S market, it will have to be made to EU standards. A cake made to EU standards will also be able to be sold in Great Britain.
Q
Can I make a boat or a car in Northern Ireland that does not conform to EU standards? A As with cakes, the answer depends on where the manufacturer intends to sell their product. If the product is going to be sold and used in Northern Ireland or Great Britain, the car or boat can be made to conform with rules and regulations set in Westminster. To do this they would need to offer a degree of assurance that the car or boat will not be sold in the EU’S market. If the manufacturer wants to sell their car or boat in the
EU’S market, it will have to be made to EU standards. A car or boat made to EU standards will also be able to be sold in Great Britain.
Q
Are processed goods or goods used in manufacturing that go from Great Britain to Northern Ireland going to go through the red lane? If so, why? A
Whether a product travels through the green or red lane depends on whether the UK and EU can agree on its final consumption destination. If both sides agree that the item, whether it be a cake, boat or any other manufactured goods, is going to be consumed in Northern Ireland, then it will travel through the green lane. If there is any hint of doubt over the final destination, or if the final destination is the
Republic of Ireland, then the goods will travel through the red lane.
Q How far can the United Kingdom deviate from the European Union’s rule book?
A As part of the post-brexit trade deal, the UK agreed with Brussels that its standards would not regress from EU standards set by January 2021, when the UK officially left the bloc’s single market and customs union. The Government agreed this in order to maintain quota and tariff-free trade with the EU. If the UK does opt to reduce its standards, in areas such as food safety, then Brussels will be able to try to impose trade tariffs to address any potential trade distortions caused by the tweaks.