Sausage shortages in Northern Ireland might be averted after the European Commission said it is willing to discuss the UK’s request to extend a grace period which allows the importation of chilled meats from Great Britain (GB).
The UK formally asked the commission to extend the grace period past the June 30 th deadline for another three months to September 30 th .
In response, the EU said Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič will “reach out to Lord Frost and his team to set up a meeting as soon as possible to discuss this request in detail. The Commission will also consult the European Parliament and the Council.”
Although not a guarantee of an extension, the relatively warm response from the EU will bolster the mood of GB producers of sausages and other chilled meats, as well as the supermarkets and other retailers which rely on them.
However, the commission warned that the extension is temporary.
“The Commission has already indicated its openness to finding solutions in line with the Protocol,” the statement said. “However, for that to happen, the UK must fully implement the Protocol, which is the solution found to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, the functioning of the all-island economy, and the integrity of the EU's Single Market.
“There is no alternative to the Protocol. When looking for solutions, providing stability and predictability for the people of Northern Ireland will be of paramount importance.”
The grace period was designed in December 2020 to allow the continued flow of chilled meats from GB to Northern Ireland once the transition period ended after warnings of bare supermarket shelves in the province. It meant sausages, bacon and other meat products wouldn't need to comply with the new rules which governed the importation of GB goods to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland protocol during that designated period.
The EU said the six month extension should have been used by suppliers and retailers to adapt to the new customs and VAT rules which have been implemented for chilled meat exported from GB across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland.
“All stakeholders were expected to use this time effectively to adapt supply chains for chilled meats sold in Northern Ireland,” the EU statement said.
