Retail and hospitality sectors questioned on impact of NI Protocol
15 March 2021
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee hears from representatives of the retail and hospitality sectors about how they are being affected by the Northern Ireland Protocol which governs the movement of goods between GB and NI.
- Watch Parliament TV: Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol
- Inquiry: Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol
- Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Witnesses
Wednesday 17 March 2021, virtual meeting
At 9.30am
- Andrew Lynas, Managing Director, Lynas Foodservice
- Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster
- Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive, Retail NI
Food supply chains in Northern Ireland, already under pressure due to the introduction of new processes following Brexit, will face more stringent checks when grace periods for goods of animal and plant origin and meat products end.
These grace periods had been due to end on 1 April and 1 July respectively, but the UK Government provoked controversy on 3 March when it announced it would unilaterally extend them until at least 1 October. Last week EU member states backed the European Commission’s proposal to take legal action against the UK using mechanisms under the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Witnesses on the panel are expected to be asked to discuss;
- impact of the NI Protocol, particularly for consumers and small businesses;
- assessment of the extension of grace periods by the UK Government.
Further information
Image: Pixabay