Irish and EU officials have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to reduce the impact of Brexit on the export of Irish food products and live animals into the rest of the EU via the UK land bridge.
Officials said that the deal will allow Irish food exports to access 'green lanes' when they come off ferries traveling from British to continental ports, reports RTÉ.ie
According to RTÉ without the agreement, officials said that food and live animal exports from Ireland 'would have faced a significant increase in costs, delays and paperwork, and some Dutch ports might have become off-limits to live exports altogether.'
'Encouraging'
In a statement, IFA President Tim Cullinan said reports that progress had been made on food and live animal exports going through the UK post-Brexit was encouraging.
“It is crucial that there are no barriers to trade or additional costs arising from Britain’s exit from the EU,” he said.
Cullinan noted that live animal exports are particularly important for Irish farmers to put more competition into our beef sector.
“While we have yet to see the precise details of what is proposed, and it is yet to be approved by Member States, the news coming from the talks is encouraging,” he added.
RTÉ highlighted that deal, which must still be approved by member states, will require a change in EU rules governing the surveillance of food coming into the single market.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
