Windsor Framework and Northern Ireland Protocol: DUP and UUP express concern as Asda introduces 'Not for EU' labels on food in NI

The BBC reported today that Asda has already begun using the labels in NI ahead of the October deadline.

The measure was agreed under the Windsor Framework as an amendment to the Northern Ireland Protocol, the EU-UK deal which saw the province remain inside the EU customs union after Brexit.

The labels are not officially required until the start of October, when EU grace periods will expire on customs restrictions on a range of goods coming into NI from GB.

Unionists have campaigned against NI remaining in the EU customs union. As a result, the Windsor Framework has introduced red and green lanes for goods coming into NI from GB, in a bid to ease EU customs paperwork on traders.

Goods which are expected to remain in NI are allowed to use the green lane and benefit from reduced EU customs paperwork, although critics claim this will only apply to retail goods in NI and will not benefit manufacturers here.

All other goods coming into NI from GB must go through the red lane and cope with the full range of EU customs restrictions normally applied to goods entering the EU.

Asda told the News Letter it is introducing ‘Not for EU’ labelling on its own brand meat products in line with the Windsor Framework.

Retail NI and the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said their members are working hard to be ready for the October deadline – with guidance only having been published for them a few weeks ago.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said his members are working hard to be prepared for the required deadline for implementing the new labelling.

“Retail NI continues to engage with DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) and DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland) on this issue to ensure that its implementation is as light touch as possible for our members and that consumers have the correct information as required under the Windsor Framework," he told the News Letter.

“Despite the guidance only recently being published, our members are working hard to meet the October deadline".

Neil Johnston is Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium – which represents all the main supermarkets. He said that the top priority for his members is the consumer.

“Supermarkets are focused on maintaining as broad as possible a range of goods and value for money for NI consumers,” he said.

"NI benefits hugely from being part of the UK market and it is essential that we minimise any disruption on GB to NI trade. We also need to respect the EU’s need to protect the EU internal market given the proximity of the Republic – and labelling is part of the measures designed to do this.

“For the supermarkets the consumers are the priority. While they have worked closely with government about these measures, the detailed guidance was only published a few weeks ago and so it is conceivable there will be some bumps along the road."

”Consumers should be assured, however, that any disruption will be kept to a minimum. We have been reassured that compliance from 1 October will be more about ‘education and upskilling’ rather than rigorous enforcement. We very much hope that a pragmatic approach is pursued.”

However the DUP and UUP expressed concern about the development and the impact on consumers and businesses.

DUP Deputy Leader Gavin Robinson said his party is still working to ensure that NI is not separated from GB in such trade matters - with Stormont currently on hold because the party withdrew over the dispute.

“As we have previously indicated, whilst the Windsor Framework represents progress, significant outstanding issues remain," he told the News Letter. "The roll-out of ‘Not for EU’ labelling in Northern Ireland demonstrates that it is possible for retailers to deliver such a scheme, but whilst it will be a requirement in Northern Ireland from October, it will not be required in Great Britain until 2025.

"The interim creates a period of uncertainty and we continue to liaise with the Government to ensure that a UK-wide system is legislated for and is in place so Northern Ireland does not continue to be separated from Great Britain in this area.”

East Antrim DUP MP and former Stormont Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said the labelling requirements will cause food in NI to become more expensive.

“This is a sign of times to come and will add to the expense of buying food in NI because of the need for a separate process," he told the News Letter. "At least ASDA are continuing to buy NI and GB products."

He went on to claim that another supermarket chain operating in NI is "circumventing the labelling requirements by abandoning GB and NI suppliers and going to the Republic of Ireland and rest of Europe for Northern Ireland supplies for their shops.”

He added: “The food labelling regulations for Northern Ireland were slipped through last week during recess, showing once again the despicable underhand manner in which this treacherous government is determined to bow to the EU regardless of the harm it does to the union - one of the reasons why unionists must not in any way relax their opposition to the Windsor Framework.”

UUP MLA Steve Aiken said the labelling was unwelcome and would impact on the economy.

"This is another, unwelcome manifestation of the Irish Sea Border put in place by the Tory government," he told the News Letter.

“With ‘red’ and ‘green’ lanes due to be put in place in October - with even more consequences for our businesses and economy – the need to have a direct Northern Ireland voice to mitigate these impacts has never been greater.

"Sitting on the sidelines, rather than raising these issues directly from the Assembly, is very damaging, for our community."