Peers launch new probe into food and farming under Northern Ireland Protocol
Fears about the impact of the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol on farmers, food producers and their supply chains will be explored by Peers.
The House of Lords EU Environment Sub-Committee has launched today (2 June) a short inquiry into what the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol will mean for Northern Ireland's agri-food sector and its trade with Great Britain.
The Protocol, designed to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, means that from 1 January 2021 some European Union rules affecting the movement of goods will apply to Northern Ireland.
Concerns have been raised about:
- the level of additional checks and other controls on agri-food ingredients and products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland;
- possible barriers for Northern Ireland agri-food products going to Great Britain;
- what the future UK-EU relationship will mean for the Protocol;
- the involvement of Northern Ireland industry in implementation decisions;
- the impact of COVID-19 on preparations for the end of the transition period.
The committee will hear from farmers, food producers and transport companies this month, publishing and presenting to government the views expressed before Parliament's summer recess in July.
For more information go to Agrifood and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
