Sammy Wilson

Frozen products must meet the same requirements as non-frozen products. Products in scope must meet relevant labelling requirements to move through the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme. Details of these requirements can be found in the guidance published on 9 June.

The Government published technical requirements for not-for-EU labelling on 9 June 2023, as follows:

• The labels can be written, printed, stencilled, marked, embossed, impressed on or attached to the product, box or shelf. The labels can be adhesive labels (stickers) or sticky tape, if they are not easily removable.
• The label must be easy to see, clear to read and unlikely to fall off or be removed. It should not be hidden or covered by any other writing or pictures. It can be incorporated into individual packaging if it does not cover any other required information.
• Products should be marked in line with existing UK labelling requirements.

The label size, font, and location can be determined by the business as long as the above requirements are met.

Fishers who purchased a Maritime Systems device and their industry representatives are being kept directly informed, and have been provided with guidance, including being signposted to further support from the Marine Management Organisation.

The costs associated with supporting fishers and re-starting the I-VMS Project is still being assessed.

Fishers who purchased a Maritime Systems device and their industry representatives are being kept directly informed, and have been provided with guidance, including being signposted to further support from the Marine Management Organisation.

The costs associated with supporting fishers and re-starting the I-VMS Project is still being assessed.

The current I-VMS Project that facilitates access to U12 fishers in England, to secure an I-VMS device, did so through a ‘Type Approval’ process. This process required suppliers of I-VMS devices to demonstrate that their device met the I-VMS Functional Technical Specification, which included agreeing to Requirements of Participation.

All prospective suppliers were invited to engagement workshops ahead of any formal decision making relating to the approval of their devices’ Type Approved status.

All four I-VMS device suppliers were informed of the outcome of the independent testing and given the opportunity to meet with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and its independent tester to discuss the results.

All suppliers were also given an opportunity to provide the MMO with proposals to fix the issues identified through the testing. The MMO was clear that if suppliers did not provide a plan, or if the MMO was unable to accept the plan, then Type Approval for the device would be removed.

The decision to grant or revoke a devices Type Approval status sits with the MMO.

The decision to revoke the Maritime Systems device Type Approval status was taken as the device submitted for Independent Testing by Maritime Systems did not meet the technical specification for Type Approval. The fix plan provided by Maritime Systems did not give the MMO the necessary confidence that the numerous and significant issues with the device could be fixed.

I and my officials continue to regularly engage with the MMO to ensure the successful rollout of I-VMS to the English under 12m fleet.

All four I-VMS device suppliers were informed of the outcome of the independent testing and given the opportunity to meet with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and its independent tester to discuss the results.

All suppliers were also given an opportunity to provide the MMO with proposals to fix the issues identified through the testing. The MMO was clear that if suppliers did not provide a plan, or if the MMO was unable to accept the plan, then Type Approval for the device would be removed.

The decision to grant or revoke a devices Type Approval status sits with the MMO.

The decision to revoke the Maritime Systems device Type Approval status was taken as the device submitted for Independent Testing by Maritime Systems did not meet the technical specification for Type Approval. The fix plan provided by Maritime Systems did not give the MMO the necessary confidence that the numerous and significant issues with the device could be fixed.

I and my officials continue to regularly engage with the MMO to ensure the successful rollout of I-VMS to the English under 12m fleet.

All four I-VMS device suppliers were informed of the outcome of the independent testing and given the opportunity to meet with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and its independent tester to discuss the results.

All suppliers were also given an opportunity to provide the MMO with proposals to fix the issues identified through the testing. The MMO was clear that if suppliers did not provide a plan, or if the MMO was unable to accept the plan, then Type Approval for the device would be removed.

The decision to grant or revoke a devices Type Approval status sits with the MMO.

The decision to revoke the Maritime Systems device Type Approval status was taken as the device submitted for Independent Testing by Maritime Systems did not meet the technical specification for Type Approval. The fix plan provided by Maritime Systems did not give the MMO the necessary confidence that the numerous and significant issues with the device could be fixed.

I and my officials continue to regularly engage with the MMO to ensure the successful rollout of I-VMS to the English under 12m fleet.

We have committed to providing unfettered access for Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods to the Great Britain market and have enshrined these protections in law. This means Qualifying Northern Ireland goods, except for a small subset such as those subject to international obligations, will face no new checks and controls. We made clear in the draft Border Target Operating Model that Irish goods will be subject to checks when moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain. The Government is rightly engaging with the Welsh and Scottish Governments to ensure appropriate infrastructure is in place on the west coast to support these movements.

Officials from NIO, NI Exec and DAERA have been consulted regularly on the TOM as it has developed to ensure compatibility with the Windsor Framework.

We have committed to providing unfettered access for Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods to the Great Britain market and have enshrined these protections in law. This means Qualifying Northern Ireland goods, except for a small subset such as those subject to international obligations, will face no new checks and controls. We made clear in the draft Border Target Operating Model that Irish goods will be subject to checks when moving directly from Ireland to Great Britain. The Government is rightly engaging with the Welsh and Scottish Governments to ensure appropriate infrastructure is in place on the west coast to support these movements.

The UK Government remains committed to ensuring unfettered access for Northern Ireland traders to the Great Britain market. These arrangements will be enshrined and further strengthened in domestic legislation, avoiding burdens for Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods on both direct Northern Ireland-Great Britain and indirect Northern Ireland-Ireland-Great Britain routes. Except for a small subset of goods such as those subject to international obligations, this means they will face no new checks and controls, as has been the case since January 2021. The draft Border Target Operating Model makes clear that Ireland/EU goods will face new checks and controls when moving from Irish ports directly to Great Britain.

The Government is committed to exploring the use of cages. However, no formal timelines for consultations have been confirmed as yet.

My officials have commenced work to assess how Defra will exercise the powers contained in the Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023. My officials have commenced assessment and will provide an update to the House in due course.

A business case for the construction of SPS inspection facilities in Northern Ireland will be prepared. I will provide an update to the House in due course.

The latest information available as to costs borne by DAERA is set out in my answer to the Rt Hon member for Lagan Valley of 28 November to PQ 92116.

A business case for the construction of SPS inspection facilities in Northern Ireland will be prepared. I will provide an update to the House in due course.

The latest information available as to costs borne by DAERA is set out in my answer to the Rt Hon member for Lagan Valley of 28 November to PQ 92116.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for licensing marine activities in the seas around England, including the removal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from the seabed. In determining any application for a marine licence, the MMO considers all relevant matters including the need to protect the marine environment. This involves assessing any potential impacts on marine life under an environmental assessment. Such assessments are made on the specifics of each case and involve consultation with the MMO’s primary advisors, including Natural England.

In the last five years, the MMO has received, assessed and issued nine marine licences involving the removal of UXOs from the seabed.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for licensing marine activities in the seas around England, including the removal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from the seabed. In determining any application for a marine licence, the MMO considers all relevant matters including the need to protect the marine environment. This involves assessing any potential impacts on marine life under an environmental assessment. Such assessments are made on the specifics of each case and involve consultation with the MMO’s primary advisors, including Natural England.

In the last five years, the MMO has received, assessed and issued nine marine licences involving the removal of UXOs from the seabed.

Defra and DAERA are working together to ensure that both trade and the movement of goods will continue at the end of the Transition Period. Outcomes from this work, including the process by which controls are conducted and their frequency (including the level of physical checks required), are being discussed with the EU in the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee. Discussions are being taken forward in the context of the provision in the Protocol that both parties must use their “best endeavours” to avoid controls at Northern Ireland ports. Defra and DAERA continue to work with industry, traders, representative bodies and local authorities to ensure they are engaged, supported and properly prepared to continue trading from January 2021. This will include the publication of Q&As on the DAERA website that will be updated to reflect ongoing discussions and new arrangements.

EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary law will apply to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol, upholding the longstanding status of the island of Ireland as a single epidemiological unit. This means there will be no change to the import arrangements for plants moving from the EU to Northern Ireland after the end of the Transition Period.

Defra and DAERA are working together to ensure that both trade and the movement of goods will continue at the end of the Transition Period. Outcomes from this work, including the process by which controls are conducted and their frequency (including the level of physical checks required), are being discussed with the EU in the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee. Discussions are being taken forward in the context of the provision in the Protocol that both parties must use their “best endeavours” to avoid controls at Northern Ireland ports. Defra and DAERA continue to work with industry, traders, representative bodies and local authorities to ensure they are engaged, supported and properly prepared to continue trading from January 2021. This will include the publication of Q&As on the DAERA website that will be updated to reflect ongoing discussions and new arrangements.

EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary law will apply to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Protocol, upholding the longstanding status of the island of Ireland as a single epidemiological unit. This means there will be no change to the import arrangements for plants moving from the EU to Northern Ireland after the end of the Transition Period.

The UK submitted applications to the European Commission on 30 June for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland. These are for the purposes of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures at Larne and Foyle ports, and for existing SPS inspection posts to be expanded at Belfast and Warrenpoint ports. These applications fulfil our obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The Command paper The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226) acknowledged the particular requirements under the Protocol on agrifood movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. It also said that the Government would make proposals to minimise requirements on agrifood movements.

The UK’s applications to the European Commission for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland reflect those proposals. We are engaging with the Commission on both. The Government has confirmed to the Northern Ireland Executive in principle it will fund the costs of implementing agrifood checks, subject to business case approval.

The Command paper The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226) acknowledged the particular requirements under the Protocol on agrifood movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. It also said that the Government would make proposals to minimise requirements on agrifood movements.

The UK’s applications to the European Commission for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland reflect those proposals. We are engaging with the Commission on both. The Government has confirmed to the Northern Ireland Executive in principle it will fund the costs of implementing agrifood checks, subject to business case approval.

The Command paper The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226) acknowledged the particular requirements under the Protocol on agrifood movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. It also said that the Government would make proposals to minimise requirements on agrifood movements.

The UK’s applications to the European Commission for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland reflect those proposals. We are engaging with the Commission on both. The Government has confirmed to the Northern Ireland Executive in principle it will fund the costs of implementing agrifood checks, subject to business case approval.

The Command paper The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226) acknowledged the particular requirements under the Protocol on agrifood movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. It also said that the Government would make proposals to minimise requirements on agrifood movements.

The UK’s applications to the European Commission for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland reflect those proposals. We are engaging with the Commission on both. The Government has confirmed to the Northern Ireland Executive in principle it will fund the costs of implementing agrifood checks, subject to business case approval.

The Command paper The UK’s Approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol (CP226) acknowledged the particular requirements under the Protocol on agrifood movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. It also said that the Government would make proposals to minimise requirements on agrifood movements.

The UK’s applications to the European Commission for approval of facilities to conduct checks on agrifood goods at points of entry to Northern Ireland reflect those proposals. We are engaging with the Commission on both. The Government has confirmed to the Northern Ireland Executive in principle it will fund the costs of implementing agrifood checks, subject to business case approval.