BBC News
Published
image copyrightEPA/REUTERS
image captionLord Frost (L) has been discussing border issues with his EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic in central London
The EU says its patience is wearing very thin with the UK in talks aimed at avoiding a trade war over Northern Ireland border checks.
Exports of sausages and other chilled meats from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will effectively be banned at the end of the month.
The UK says it is ready to ignore the ban to prevent further disruption.
Top EU official Maros Sefcovic warned tariffs - taxes on imports - could be imposed if that happens.
British suppliers deciding that trading in Northern Ireland ‘too much hassle The protocol was co-designed by the EU and UK to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland David Young, PA 17 March, 2021 13:31
A leading food services company has expressed concern that GB suppliers are deciding that trading in Northern Ireland is not worth the hassle of extra Brexit bureaucracy.
Andrew Lynas, managing director of Coleraine-based Lynas Foodservice, told MPs that buying mozzarella cheese from one of his long-standing suppliers in England now requires eight separate processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Prior to the protocol coming into effect at the end of December, he said there were no checks required.
A leading food services company has expressed concern that GB suppliers are deciding that trading in Northern Ireland is not worth the hassle of extra Brexit bureaucracy.
Andrew Lynas, managing director of Coleraine-based Lynas Foodservice, told MPs that buying mozzarella cheese from one of his long-standing suppliers in England now requires eight separate processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Prior to the protocol coming into effect at the end of December, he said there were no checks required.
Mr Lynas was among business representatives giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Wednesday on the implications of the extra red tape required by the contentious arrangements governing Irish Sea trade post-Brexit.
BBC News
By John Campbell
Published
One of Northern Ireland s biggest catering suppliers is buying less from British firms and more from the EU due to Brexit and the Irish Sea border.
Lynas Foodservice was naturally being forced to move to an all-Ireland or pan-European approach to sourcing, said its managing director.
Andrew Lynas was giving evidence to the NI Affairs Committee.
Northern Ireland has remained in the EU single market for goods, while the rest of the UK has left.
That means food products moving from GB to NI face strict EU import processes.
But goods entering Northern Ireland from the EU do not face these controls.
Great Britain suppliers deciding that trading in Northern Ireland is now too much hassle after Brexit
Andrew Lynas, managing director of Coleraine-based Lynas Foodservice, told MPs that buying mozzarella cheese from one of his long-standing suppliers in England now requires eight separate processes under the Northern Ireland Protocol
United Kingdom flag and the EU flag (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
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