NI food and farming checks suspension unclear

Farm leaders in Northern Ireland are trying to establish whether checks on agricultural goods at the Irish Sea border have been suspended.

On Wednesday 2 February, NI agriculture minister Edwin Poots ordered a halt to inspections of animal, food and plant products at sea ports.

The checks are part of the post-Brexit trade rules known as the NI Protocol.

The protocol was agreed under Brexit negotiations to ensure products complied with EU laws in the Republic of Ireland, which shares a land border with the North.

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But the NI Protocol has hit farming trade and animal movements between GB and NI and Mr Poots’ Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is opposed to the legislation.

His order on Wednesday was made in line with DUP policy.

Order ignored

However, information from the ports suggest that the order has been, at least in part, ignored with checks on farm goods going ahead.

Ulster Farming Union officials who are monitoring the situation said they had been unable to establish whether inspectors have followed the order. 

One UFU official said it appeared Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) staff had turned up to work as normal.

The BBC also reported that some of Belfast Port facility was still operating.

The DUP’s power-sharing partners in the NI Executive, Sinn Féin, claimed the move to halt port checks was a political stunt.

Officials in the Republic of Ireland warned any move to stop checks would contravene international law.

However, Mr Poots, said legal advice supported his view that he was entitled to stop the checks.