EU and UK officials are in last-minute talks to avoid a potential two-way ban on exports of a wide range of food items between Great Britain and Ireland, reports RTÉ.ie.
The ban would affect products such as sausages, mince and prepared meals, among others.
Ireland’s minister for agriculture Charlie McConalogue said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the issue emerged in recent weeks and is "concerning" and "a reflection of the many issues Brexit is raising”.
He added that the matter emphasises the importance of finalising a trade deal promptly, and significant work is needed in the weeks ahead to ensure trade is "as efficient and smooth as possible" post-Brexit.
The minister also stated that the Irish team will work hard to try to resolve this situation.
Trade Restrictions
EU rules impose restrictions on imports of certain meat products from outside the union.
This will affect the import of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland as EU food safety rules will be applicable from 1 January under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The UK has indicated that it will, in turn, apply reciprocal restrictions on such foods coming from Ireland, the report added.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
