April 19, 2021 8:06 pm
Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture has warned permanent customs facilities for agri-food produce will now not be ready until at least 2023.
Speaking at the Stormont Agriculture Committee meeting on Thursday (April 15), DAERA permanent secretary Denis McMahon explained the department will now have to seek Executive approval before commencing work – a process expected to add a further year on to the build.
Just a month ago, the last time the permanent secretary addressed the committee, he told members the competition of ports infrastructure would be delayed until March 2022.
Customs facilities
Checks began on SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) goods at the ports on January 1, 2021, after the end of the UK’s EU Withdrawal period. However, more checks are set to begin in 2022 – already delayed from March and July 2021.