Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1296. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes brought about by the Windsor Framework to the handling of SPS goods entering Irish ports from Britain and destined directly for Northern Ireland; the effect of these changes in facilitating more trade from Britain through this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38188/23]
View answerThe controls that have applied to the imports of consignments requiring Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks (live animals, animal products, regulated plants and plant products and certain foods of non-animal origin) at border control posts operated by my Department (Dublin Port, Rosslare Port, Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport) are the same regardless of whether the consignment is destined for a premises in this State or in Northern Ireland.
These controls consist of documentary, identity and physical checks. Consignments must be in compliance with the requirements of EU legislation before the consignment may be released from the border control post (BCP) for onward transport to the destination. Consignments that are not in compliance with EU rules must be rejected. Operators may choose to return rejected consignments to the non-EU country of origin or may opt to have the consignment destroyed.
Consignments arriving at ports and airports in Northern Ireland and destined for premises in the republic of Ireland, must be subjected to the same controls as apply at the BCPs operated by my Department. As applies at the BCPs operated by my Department, consignments that are not in compliance with EU regulations must be rejected and either destroyed or returned to the country of origin (GB in the case of consignments from GB).
The Windsor Framework will not bring about any changes to these rules. The Windsor Framework is designed to ease controls on consignments arriving from GB and destined for premises in Northern Ireland only. Consignments from GB requiring SPS checks, arriving at any Irish port or airport, and destined for premises in this State, will continue to be subject to the same rules that apply today. These controls also apply to consignments arriving at Irish ports and airports from other non-EU countries.
It is not anticipated that the implementation of the Windsor Framework will facilitate more trade from GB through this State. The biggest impediment to increasing trade from GB remains the fact that the UK is now outside the European Union.
