Northern Ireland Protocol: Haulier says House of Lords report confirms Windsor Framework leaves him 'far worse off'
A director at a NI transport company has welcomed a House of Lords report which highlights threats to his sector that have not been resolved by the Windsor Framework.
The Lords report, published this week, found that compared to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the framework would ease the movement of retail goods, agri-food produce, including chilled meats, parcels, pets and human medicines.
However, peers warned that for some businesses, the framework will be “more burdensome” than the protocol.
The framework aims to reduce EU import paperwork on goods coming into NI from GB, by creating a green lane for goods remaining within NI. However goods which may pass on into the south will have to undergo full EU import restrictions in a red lane.
The report highlighted that NI haulage chiefs had expressed concern that the framework does not address EU restrictions on mixed container loads [groupage], which may all be compelled to use the red lane.
The peers concluded: “We invite the government to clarify how the Windsor Framework’s provisions will impact upon groupage and the movement of mixed loads, and what steps are being taken to address the concerns of businesses affected.”
Mark Tait, director of Target Transport in Randalstown, welcomed the report. He accepts that the framework will make life easier for some sectors, but he agrees with the peers that it will make life even more difficult than the protocol for many.
“We have been given this impression that all trade coming into Northern Ireland will go through the green lane and be exempt from EU import regulations, but that is simply not the case,” he said.
“The green lane will be for retail and retail only. Unless you can prove that you're selling from a retail counter to an end user in Northern Ireland your goods will have to go through the red lane and be subject to full EU import regulations.”
Up until now, many of the goods he brought in were exempt due to EU grace periods.
“The framework does not fix any problems and will evidently make things far worse for us,” he added.
However, a spokeswoman for the Northern Ireland Office responded that the Windsor Framework had restored the smooth flow of goods into Northern Ireland.
“The Windsor Framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland - restoring the smooth flow of goods with Great Britain and protecting its place in the Union,” she said.
“It cuts paperwork and checks compared to the old protocol, lifts the bans on products like seed potatoes and provides a durable, sustainable basis for the future.
“The Committee's report underlines the importance of restoring the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly – it sets out at length how restored institutions would give Northern Ireland a greater say over the new arrangements.”