The UK has met the health and biosecurity assurances required to be listed as a third country by the EU for the likes of meat, dairy and fish, and also been granted access for a range of plant products.

It means that certain animal- and plant-related goods will be able to move from Britain to the EU and NI when accompanied by the correct export health certificate (animal products) or phytosanitary certificate (plant products).

With the NI Protocol within the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement meaning that NI is effectively within the EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) zone, all goods produced here can freely move within the EU. However, this listing is relevant for those moving goods from Britain to NI.

In particular, ware potatoes are included on the updated list, negating concerns from some local companies about access to varieties suited to the chipping market.

Seed potatoes

However, the EU has not accepted the case put by the UK for seed potatoes to be included, so these cannot be exported to NI from Britain after 1 January 2021.

“Defra will continue to engage with the Commission on this issue,” notes a UK government press release.

Estimates suggest that the loss of this market will cost Scottish growers up to £15m

That is a significant issue for the Scottish seed potato sector in particular, which normally exports around 22,000t to the EU and NI each year. Estimates suggest that the loss of this market will cost Scottish growers up to £15m. However, that potentially creates an opportunity for NI seed potato growers, who can access the EU market in the future.

Breeding livestock

Also still to be resolved is the issue around the movement of breeding livestock from Britain to NI from 1 January 2021 onwards. The problem here relates to the wording of the current export health certificate to accompany livestock, which in the case of sheep requires them to come from scrapie-monitored flocks.

Around 7,000 breeding sheep are currently on farms in Scotland, and due to be brought to NI in the new year.

This is not a fair or reasonable suggestion to put to farmers

In a statement last Wednesday, the UFU hit out at the NI Office for suggesting that flock owners unable to bring these animals to NI should now look to sell these sheep in Britain.

“This is not a fair or reasonable suggestion to put to farmers. Sheep sales for specialised breeds such as Blackfaced sheep only take place once a year, which is during September,” responded UFU president Victor Chestnutt.

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