With no plans for checks or tariffs to apply to the Irish land border, the European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has raised the possibility controls elsewhere when goods sail between the Ireland, Britain and continental Europe if there is a no-deal Brexit.

Following last night's rejection by the House of Commons of the deal negotiated between the EU and the British government, Barnier said his concern was to "respect the Good Friday/Belfast agreement in every aspect, and also to protect the integrity of our internal market. This means protecting the quality and safety consumers are entitled to, notably on food".

This also means "tax controls" and checks on product standards, Barnier added.

Live animals

"Any good, any live animal entering Northern Ireland from Britain after Brexit is also entering Poland, Slovenia, Belgium, Germany or any of our countries, so we must find ways of making those checks operational," he said.

Barnier re-stated that the latest version of the Withdrawal Agreement sealed with UK prime minsiter Theresa May on Monday was final. "There will be no additional assurances or interpretations," he said.

As British MPs now face further votes to decide between a no-deal Brexit or an extension of Article 50, Barnier said: "Why extend the negotiation? The negotiation on Article 50 is over. We have a treaty."

The heightened risk of a no-deal Brexit makes the present time a "very grave moment", he added.

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