Chilled meats from Great Britain, such as sausages, which would
otherwise be prohibited in Northern Ireland, will continue to
move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland after the UK and the
EU agreed to extend the grace period allowing this until 30
September.
The extension means that Northern Ireland consumers will be able
to buy chilled meat products from Great Britain, and allows for
further discussions to continue on a permanent solution.
Cabinet Minister said:
“We are pleased we have been able to agree a sensible
extension on chilled meats moving from Great Britain to Northern
Ireland - one that does not require rules in the rest of the UK
to align with future changes in EU agrifood rules.
“This is a positive first step but we still need to agree a
permanent solution - Northern Ireland is an integral part of the
United Kingdom and its consumers should be able to enjoy products
they have bought from Great Britain for years.
“This is a very clear sign that the Protocol has to be
operated in a pragmatic and proportionate way. The chilled meats
issue is only one of a very large number of problems with the way
the Protocol is currently operating, and solutions need to be
found with the EU to ensure it delivers on its original aims: to
protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, safeguard Northern
Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom, and protect the EU's
single market for goods. We look to work energetically with the
EU to do so.”
The Government proposed to the EU that it would be sensible to
extend the chilled meats grace period, on certain conditions, and
detailed discussions have followed between the Government and the
Commission. Crucially, the agreement does not require the rest of
the UK to align with any changes in EU agrifood rules during the
grace period - there is no dynamic alignment.
Otherwise, the arrangements for the extension are largely the
same as those agreed in December. The UK will aim to introduce
product-level labelling as soon as practicable but businesses
will be given time and support to put the arrangements in place.
The Protocol is continuing to cause disruption in a number of
areas beyond just chilled meats. The UK government has submitted
a dozen papers to the Commission on various issues, including
goods movements and medicines and the need to resolve these
issues is as pressing as ever.
The Government is working through the Joint Committee on longer
term sustainable solutions to these issues recognising that
businesses and people in Northern Ireland deserve clarity and
certainty on the way forward.
UK Declaration
Further to the Unilateral Declaration made by the United Kingdom
to the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 17 December 2020
regarding meat products, of which the European Union took note
the same day, for the period from 1 July until 30 September 2021,
meat products (as defined in the 17 December Declaration) will be
brought from Great Britain into Northern Ireland under the
following conditions:
- The meat products enter Northern Ireland through a designated
place as defined in point (38) of Article 3 of Regulation (EU)
2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and they
are subject to a channelling procedure applicable from the
designated place to the destination supermarket in Northern
Ireland,
- They are sold exclusively to end consumers in supermarkets
located in Northern Ireland, and they are not to be sold to other
operators of the food chain,
- They are accompanied by official certificates issued by the UK
competent authorities (based on similar models as are already
existing or are put in place during the period for fresh meat,
minced meat and meat preparations), and
- They are packed for end consumers and will bear a label making
clear that the products are for sale only in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom will endeavour to introduce product-level
labelling as soon as is practicable.
During this period, the United Kingdom will not amend the rules
applicable to meat products already in force in the rest of the
United Kingdom.
