Major supermarkets in northern Ireland have issued urgent calls for action to avoid interruptions in trade under the terms of the Convention. Brexit protocol.
Six leading British retailers representing more than 75% of the grocery market in the region have written to the Brexit Minister Lord Frost and European Commission vice president Maros Sevkovic Call for urgent action on trade between Britain and Britain Northern Ireland
Northerner Ireland As part of the Brexit agreement, the protocol aims to avoid a hard border with Ireland by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the EU’s single commodity market.
Later this year, a large number of further inspections will be carried out on cargo arriving in the region from the UK.
The supermarket said that unless a solution is found, starting from October, retailers will face higher costs and complexity when shipping goods from the UK to Northern Ireland.
They added that increased inspections, additional paperwork, and the need for export health certificates for animal-derived products may force many retailers to move their supply chains from the UK to the EU.
They welcomed the extension of the grace period, but stated that “if Northern Irish consumers do not experience severe supply disruptions and increased costs, more work needs to be done before the end of September”.
The letter urged the UK and EU governments to discuss with UK retailers, visit their supply chains and distribution centers, and host joint meetings between government technical officials and retail supply chain experts to find feasible solutions.
It warned that “if there is no swift, decisive and cooperative action on this issue, there will be chaos” and called on Lord Frost and Mr. Sevkovic to “help us minimize this chaos and let We can continue to provide the people of Northern Ireland with choice and affordability”.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Association, said Northern Irish consumers may face fewer choices and higher food costs.
“The end of the NI grace period comes to mind in every British retailer with a supply chain in Northern Ireland,” she said.
“If no action is taken, it will be the people of Northern Ireland, who have half of the disposable income of British households. The first thing to bear is this deadlock-which means there are fewer choices and higher costs for purchasing basic food.
“The new red tape has caused delays and additional costs have soared. We see challenges facing the’just-in-time’ supply chain.
“We need to see the real ambitions of both sides to provide a compromise that will benefit the most affected: the people of Northern Ireland.
“Our members have invested heavily in the past few months to avoid disruption, but if the system that will take effect in October is impractical and too onerous, the disruption will be inevitable.
“Retailers have demonstrated their compliance; the government and the EU must now help us by removing barriers to the GB-NI supply chain.”
