Thread by @EmmaVardyTV

🚢 Big update on the Irish Sea Border today at the Lords committee looking at the NI protocol.

Things have improved since Jan, but still real challenges remain when moving goods GB ➡️ NI, & impact on NI consumers & businesses.

Some headlines for #IrishSeaBorder watchers.../1 🚛

🚛 There’s been lots of work to improve the system for sending food GB ➡️ NI.

But it’s still hugely time consuming - “There’s usually two members of staff working on just one lorry load…food is moving but it’s taking a huge effort from logistics providers" says @Freight_NI /2

🚛 There’s major concern over the 1st Oct when new food certification requirements kick in. Supermarkets were heading towards a cliff edge in April before UK gov delayed the date - “Time is ticking & we are facing some severe problems" says @MichaelAodhan NI Retail Consortium /3

🚛 Biggest struggle for manufacturers is GB companies no longer being prepared to send goods to NI
 
More than 50% of NI Manufacturing's members say they’re being impacted by this - “That dial hasn't moved at all since the start of the year" Stephen Kelly @ManufacturingNI /4

🚛 Really need to explain to EU member states that NI goods can still fully circulate in the single market.

Multiple problems for NI companies:

🍷 Wine wrongly turned around by German customs
🚢 Scrap steel sitting portside in Lisbon
👔 Ties returned by Italian customs /5

🚛 Industry representatives are pushing hard for the definition of 'at risk' goods to be changed. Ie that not everything coming into NI should be classed as 'at risk' of entering the EU, because most of it won't be.

This would help reduce the paperwork and costs they say. /6

🚛 There IS potential for NI to benefit from the opportunities of the protocol, because of the ability to sell into the EU and GB. Opportunites will come - “But we need to remove some of the friction...and take as much of our current economy with us" says @MichaelAodhan /Ends