Brussels and London have struck a temporary truce over their "sausage war", announcing on Wednesday that they had agreed to extend a grace period for chilled meat exports between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Article continues below
The grace period, which the UK requested, will run until September 30.
"The purpose of this additional period is to allow stakeholders, and in particular supermarkets in Northern Ireland, to complete the adjustment of their supply chains," the European Commission said in a statement, stressing however, that it is "subject to strict conditions."
Lord Frost, the UK's Cabinet Minister, said in a statement that the government is "pleased we have been able to agree on a sensible extension on chilled meats moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland — one that does not require rules in the rest of the UK to align with future changes in EU agri-food rules."
He further described it as "a positive first step" but stressed that a permanent solution still needs to be agreed upon.
"This is a very clear sign that the Protocol has to be operated in a pragmatic and proportionate way. The chilled meats issue is only one of a very large number of problems with the way the Protocol is currently operating, and solutions need to be found with the EU to ensure it delivers on its original aims: to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, safeguard Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom, and protect the EU’s single market for goods.
"We look to work energetically with the EU to do so," he added.
Chilled meats from Great Britain, such as sausages, which would otherwise be prohibited in Northern Ireland, will continue to move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland after the UK and the EU agreed to extend the grace period allowing this until 30 September.
The extension means that Northern Ireland consumers will be able to buy chilled meat products from Great Britain, and allows for further discussions to continue on a permanent solution. ■