Prepare Now for Tougher British Border Rules or Face Costs, Irish Firms Warned

Maree Gallagher’s commentary was included in an Irish Times article covering the expected implementation of border controls on food and animal imports from Ireland to the United Kingdom. The article also notes how the changes, expected to take effect in late January 2024, will become a paperwork burden for firms dealing with perishable foods.

As a result, the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce (BICC) has proposed a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and the EU, which would eliminate up to 80 percent of the border paperwork and checks. Maree said many such firms are now more reluctant to trade with the UK since there is “too much hassle”, so an SPS deal “is not a priority.”