The European Commission has agreed to a British request to extend - by three months - the grace periods provided for in the Northern Ireland Protocol to facilitate the export of chilled minced meat from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, the European institution’s Vice-President, Maroš Šefčovič, said on Wednesday 30 June.
With the EU introducing new rules on the import of chilled meat on 1 July, this is an opportunity for Northern Irish shops and supermarkets, which are also in the EU single market, to adapt and strengthen their supply chains. These products, such as sausages, will in any case are to be intended only for Northern Irish consumers.
During these three months, the UK will nevertheless have to make progress on the implementation of the rules foreseen in the UK’s EU withdrawal agreement, namely the future controls on this type of goods, and put in place the necessary infrastructure and information systems required in the protocol.
A Commission source said earlier on Wednesday that it was “not satisfied” with the British measures, which are still insufficient to implement the protocol’s requirements.
During this period, London is also invited to consider an EU/Switzerland type agreement on veterinary or phytosanitary controls which would remove the administrative burden on these movements of goods or live animals.
“We hope that the United Kingdom will find the solution during these three months”, said Maroš Šefčovič.
To address an urgent concern of the UK government, the Commission has also agreed to relax export rules for medicines, including generics, and legislation will be presented in the autumn, he added.
The Commission also adopted relaxations in the Northern Ireland Protocol concerning the transport of guide dogs accompanying their owners or the frequent transport of livestock between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These livestock will not need to be identified or re-labelled on each movement. The same flexibility is introduced for animals transported between the two zones for fairs or events of this type.
With these “creative” ideas, the Commission also expects some gestures in return, in particular on the application for permanent residence status for Europeans living in the UK. The deadline for applications for this status was 30 June, but a number of Europeans have still not received them.
“I think this has been understood at the highest political level”, said Mr Šefčovič. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)