M&S CEO Criticizes Extending Brexit Food Labelling to Northern Ireland

The decision to extend post-Brexit food labelling on products being shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland has been criticised by the chief executive of Marks & Spencer. The 'Not for EU' labels have been phased in since 2023 with the final phase to be implemented next week. Stuart Machin said it was 'bureaucratic madness' and the new deal 'can't come soon enough'. The government said it will 'continue to work closely' with businesses and support them in implementing these arrangements.

The labelling is a requirement of the Windsor Framework, the revised Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. It is part of a broader package of changes to the 2019 Brexit deal for Northern Ireland - known as the NI Protocol. The protocol kept Northern Ireland inside the EU single market for goods, which allowed a free flow of goods across the Irish border. However, it made trading from Great Britain to Northern Ireland more difficult and expensive.

Checks and controls on GB food products entering Northern Ireland have been some of the biggest practical difficulties. Under the Windsor Framework, UK public health and safety standards apply for all retail food and drink in the UK internal market. That means GB traders sending food for sale in Northern Ireland face reduced checks and paperwork compared to the protocol. The introduction of the 'Not for EU' labels on GB food products is to give assurance to the EU that products will not wrongly enter its single market. Mr Machin said the final phase of labelling would affect over 1,000 Marks & Spencer products destined for Northern Ireland. Another 400 would need additional checks in the red lane at NI ports. 'Quite frankly it's bureaucratic madness, confusing for customers, and completely unnecessary,' Mr Machin said.

According to the source: BBC.