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A lack of clarity on the wording of certificates that need to accompany exports of agri food products after Brexit is a “major threat” to the industry, according to Dr Mike Johnston, the NI director of Dairy UK.
Speaking at the Ulster Grassland Society (UGS) seminar at Greenmount on Wednesday, Johnston maintained that this was an issue for all sectors of the agri food industry regardless of whether there is a withdrawal agreement between the UK and EU.
He explained that all agri food exports that leave the UK must have an animal health export certificate. Most countries have specific criteria that each certificate must include for imports to be accepted.
“As we stand, 191 days before we leave, we haven’t seen a re-draft of what a certificate might look like and, as far as we know, nothing has been done to go to the countries and say ‘here is a new certificate, are you comfortable with it?’” Johnston told UGS members.
“This is a major threat for us, because it is quite possible that countries which currently take product will turn around and say ‘the certificate used to say EU standard, it now says UK standard, we are going to have to inspect all your premises,’” he said.
Johnston maintained that this was important for the local dairy sector as 60% of UK dairy exports to third countries are from NI.
Market slump
On dairy markets, he also sounded a cautious note, pointing out that the possibility of reduced milk supply, mainly due to difficult weather in Europe and New Zealand, has now gone away.
“Indications are that markets as we get into the first quarter of next year are starting to slump again,” Johnston said.
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