/ NEWS ROUNDUP
Under Brexit, Northern Ireland has remained a part of the EU’s single market while the rest of the UK has left, which means food products entering the province from the UK need to be professionally certified and are subject to new checks and controls at ports. In March, the UK delayed introducing some new border processes without EU agreement which led to the EU starting legal proceedings against the UK. However, the roadmap now means that phase one of the checks, which will come into force in October, will cover fresh meat products, and phase two, which starts at the end of January 2022, will cover dairy products, plants and wine. Phases three and four will cover fruit and vegetable marketing standards, pet food, organics and composite product.
The roadmap document covers more than 20 separate issues including medicines, access to databases, pet travel and the VAT treatment of second-hand cars. So far, the movement of food products from the UK mainland to Northern Ireland has been the biggest practical challenge of the sea border. Speaking to The Parliament Magazine, Irish Renew Europe MEP Barry Andrews said, “I would give a cautious welcome to the UK proposal. There would appear to be a more constructive approach to implementation of the Protocol on the UK side. The key to all of this is for the Northern Ireland parties to come together to recognise the great potential that a successfully implemented Withdrawal Agreement could have for all communities in Northern Ireland.”
David McAllister, chair of Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said, “The implementation of the Protocol is the only way to preserve stability on the island of Ireland. Both sides need to mutually agree on a path towards full compliance with the Protocol. This includes clear deadlines and milestones. I welcome that the UK government is engaging in good faith.” Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, the Greens/EFA substitute member of the UK Coordination Group, said, “This is a step in the right direction, and one that should allow for more certainty for citizens and businesses in Northern Ireland in the long run,” while Polish
EPP deputy Danuta Hubner, commented, “We must not forget that the Protocol is the only available, jointly agreed, means to avoid the return of the border while protecting the integrity of the EU single market of 450 million people. Continuation of dialogue in good faith is key.”