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Potential trouble on Border Control Posts (BCPs). This is the minimum infrastructure the EU expects at NI ports by 1 Jan. These are facilities for agrifood checks. But Stormont’s AgriMin says he’s not making applications for BCP designations until he gets more clarity from HMG
All animals & products of animal origin have to enter the EU single market through BCPs. At the end of transition NI is in single market for goods, GB is not. So under the Ireland protocol BCPs needed for GB-NI food trade.
Stormont agri officials began intensive work with the ports once HMG confirmed the Irish Sea border in its command paper (published at end of May.) Tight timeframe as Commission was expecting formal applications for BCP designations at end of June.
Process was to be: Stormont does the legwork, hands it all over to Defra who then make the formal applications to Brussels. But no handover because NI’s DUP AgriMin says he needs more information first.
He wrote to Defra last week: ‘I am currently unable to present a full application due to the lack of certainty around a number of key areas including the level of checks required.’
He suggested he will only be able to submit the applications when his questions have been answered by the joint committee - the EU-UK body overseeing the implementation of the Brexit deal.
Any further delays to BCPs is likely to alarm the EU which had been pressing the UK government to take practical steps to begin implementing the Northern Ireland part of the Brexit deal.
