The UK department for agriculture has launched a £300,000 fund for vets and local authorities to provide free training in providing export health certificates for milk, meat and live animals going from the island of Ireland to Great Britain post-Brexit.

The health certificates have caused a number of concerns, given that they will also be required for products leaving Northern Ireland for mainland Britain.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tried to pass an internal markets bill to override the need for export certificates from NI to mainland GB, but, in a counter-move, the EU has started legal proceedings against Johnson’s bill.

There are also fears that the certification process will put undue pressure on the veterinary system, with the British Veterinary Association saying it will lead to vet shortages.

However, while Johnson tries to push his bill through parliament, the UK department for agriculture appears to be making provisions for a hard Brexit scenario that will require export certificates by providing funding for vets with the UK set to leave the EU at the end of the year.