Brexit: UK asks EU to extend grace period for chilled meat exports

The UK has asked the EU to extend a grace period for chilled meats until the end of September.

Exports of chilled meats from GB to NI are due to be banned at the end of June under the terms of the NI Protocol.

The Protocol is the part of the Brexit deal which keeps NI in the EU single market for goods.

The EU does not generally permit the import of chilled meat products like mince and sausages from non-member states.

Since January GB producers have not been able to sell these products in the EU.

However, under a deal reached in December 2020 the EU agreed to a six month grace period to allow supermarkets in NI to re-orientate supply chains away from GB.

Intensive talks are taking place on the NI Protocol which created a trade border in the Irish Sea

In recent weeks the issue has seen growing tension between the EU and UK with the UK refusing to rule out a unilateral extension of the grace period.

The EU has warned it could respond with legal action which could ultimately lead to the introduction of tariffs on British goods.

Under EU law, certain chilled products - like sausages - cannot enter its market

The EU has said that earlier UK decisions to extend other grace periods breaks international law because it was not consulted.

In a statement, the European Commission said its Vice-President Maros Sefcovic will reach out to Lord Frost and his team to set up a meeting as soon as possible to discuss the request in detail.

The statement added that it had "already indicated its openness to finding solutions in line with the protocol".

"When looking for solutions, providing stability and predictability for the people of Northern Ireland will be of paramount importance," it stated.

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The 2019 deal kept Northern Ireland in the EU single market for goods and means EU customs rules are now enforced at its ports.

It was agreed that the checks would be phased in through the use of so-called "grace periods".