A senior DUP MP has called on the government to oppose EU requirements, as concerns grow that an estimated 51 percent of veterinary medicines may be discontinued in Northern Ireland, from the end of 2025.
As a result of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warned that various vital medicines, including several animal vaccines, are likely to be discontinued if no agreement is reached between the UK government and the European Union by 2025.
If that remains the case, EU rules on veterinary medicinal supply will apply in Northern Ireland. Medicines supplied to Northern Ireland directly from Great Britain, even including products that originated from, or were “batch-tested” in the EU, would need to be re-tested and re-released by a qualified individual in Northern Ireland or the EU.
The deadline for negotiations was originally set for December 2022, but a three-year extension to the “grace period” was enabled.
Windsor Framework Didn’t ‘Cut The Mustard’
Speaking to The Epoch Times via email, Ian Paisley, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP for North Antrim, said: “The prime minister launched his Windsor Framework proposals with the promise that ‘it would be as if there is no border in the Irish sea.’ At the time I was sceptical and on closer study told him his proposals on a practical basis didn’t ‘cut the mustard!'”He added, “My principal concerns are the impact the protocol and Windsor Framework has on Northern Ireland’s largest and most important industry.”
Last month, a House of Lords committee found that the UK and EU deal to reduce “red tape” on trade, following Brexit, has improved the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol, but problems remain.
The committee received warnings from industry representatives that, without a permanent solution, the supply of over half of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland may be discontinued, subsequently posing a risk to both human and animal health, and to “agrifood” supply chains.
Mr. Paisley continued: “Agriculture and food production in Northern Ireland accounts for our biggest employer both in terms of output and opportunity. Our biggest marketplace is the rest of the UK.
‘A Farming And Food Production Country’
“The facts are startling. Less than 30,000 farms in Northern Ireland–a country with less than two million people–produces enough food to feed 17 million people across the UK.“Northern Ireland is a farming and food production country offering the rest of the UK (our home market) food security in terms of productivity and value.”
Back in April, instead of introducing controls for EU imports, the government liaised with businesses to develop a new draft model for imports into Great Britain, known as the Border Target Operating Model (TOM), which will apply to all international imports into GB, including those from the EU.
However, for businesses operating from Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework, none of the additional checks from the TOM will apply.
For any goods moved into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, a system of “green” and “ref” lanes at Northern Ireland Ports will apply as per the Windsor Framework. This is to protect the UK’s internal market while offering reassurance on goods being sent to the EU.
For goods moving from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain, full customs controls will be introduced. This will be phased in from October of this year.
Mr. Paisley stated: “Our industry has been jealously eyed by our competitors in the EU. Including [those in] the republic of Ireland who would delight in taking much of that business from us. One of the ways this could happen is by damaging our ability to use and deploy veterinary medicines.”
‘A Serious Concern’
British Veterinary Association NI Branch President Esther Skelly-Smith said: “Continued access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland remains a serious concern. The UK Government must prioritise finding a permanent workable solution now and not allow the issue to slide towards another cliff edge in two and a half years’ time."The DUP have taken a hardline in their opposition to the Northern Ireland protocol, insisting that the Windsor Framework does not meet all of their requirements.
Among their “seven tests” for an acceptable deal were the requirements that there would be no checks on goods moving between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and that the protocol would not constitute a border in the Irish Sea.
“Secure access to medicines is vital and we must not lose sight of the significant implications a loss of almost 51 percent of medicines poses, not just to animal health and welfare but also trade, public health and agriculture.”
Mr. Paisley spoke to the fact that there is effectively now a border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, claiming that this was, “in part to satisfy the EU.”
He added, “Maybe now people looking on will see why I have been so obstinate in opposing proposals that fail to remove this major barrier.”
Worrying that the EU would insist on “going further,” he concluded: “In the interests of UK food security and Northern Ireland’s biggest industry we must oppose these requirements and ensure our vets can deploy scientifically proved [sic] medicines to protect our animals.”
In July, a government spokesperson stated that, “the Windsor Framework is the best deal for Northern Ireland delivering the smooth flow of trade, protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the union and delivering a robust framework for solving future issues.”
