Irish exports received a boost today (Friday) following the UK’s announcement it will delay introducing post-Brexit checks on EU goods coming into Britain by six months.
The grace period is being applied by the UK on the GB-EU trade following fears of food shortages.
Cabinet Minister Michael Gove announced the delay and said it will give Irish and UK businesses more time to prepare.
Irish Exporters Association (IEA) welcomed the move giving people more time to get ready, but said it had some concerns.
IEA chief executive Simon McKeever said: “Whilst having more time to prepare will be a relief to many Irish businesses, we have concerns about the wider issue of postponing deadlines and the uncertainty that creates in the long-run.
“Nevertheless, the delay of imposing further controls on EU goods entering Britain is welcomed and should mean that further disruption to trade is minimised for the next six months.”
The revised timetable for the introduction of import controls essentially gives business in the EU and the UK a further six months to get ready for the changes.
Irish food and drink businesses will have to ensure that Export Health Certificates accompany goods of animal origin, certain animal by-products and some high-risk food not of animal origin entering Britain from 1 October 2021 rather than 1 April 2021.
In addition, physical inspections and full border controls will start on 1 January 2022 rather than 1 July 2021.
However, Mr McKeever said the decision highlighted the lack of preparation for Brexit by the UK and questioned whether the UK will be ready by the end of this year.
The news comes a week after the UK announced a unilateral extension of grace periods for British food exports and parcel deliveries to Northern Ireland, which the EU has said is a breach of the 2019 Brexit deal.