A spokesperson for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said that importing machinery into Northern Ireland from Great Britain is “proving to be a logistical and financial nightmare.”
This comes as agricultural and forestry machinery imported into NI has been subject to EU laws for the past number of weeks.
DUP MP for Upper Bann, Carla Lockhart said it is an “outrageous” situation and that the government must use some “common-sense” to come to a conclusion that will end this fiasco.
“It’s nothing other than a box ticking exercise” the MP added, saying it an example of the EU’s harsh requirements which Labour are enforcing.
Lockhart stated: “This is a bureaucratic disaster for Northern Ireland’s agri-food and machinery sectors.
“It’s expensive, unnecessary and politically outrageous. There is no justification, especially given recent UK and EU commitments on SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) arrangements.”
This comes after the UK government notified operators that all agricultural machinery will undergo intensified testing under the required phytosanitary certificate or NI Plant Health Label (NIPHL).
If machinery or vehicles move to Northern Ireland for onward sale to the Republic of Ireland or other EU countries, then full Official Controls Regulations (OCR) apply, and a phytosanitary certificate is required.
The MP tabled an early motion in the House of Commons to oppose the enforcement of these EU regulations.
She has also written to The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in a bid to fix the situation.
Lockhart claimed the government are ‘out of touch’, saying; “People just want to earn a living, but this madness is having detrimental consequences for local businesses.
“Meanwhile, government ministers choose to bury their head in the sand and pretend everything is running smoothly.”
Machinery movement
The Upper Bann MP said that these problems have been in place since the parcel border, with surcharges as well as issues importing products such as potato seeds, came into effect in May.
Lockhart also highlighted how Grassmen’s Gareth Gault was recently refused entry to Northern Ireland as he returned from participating in the Royal Highland Show.
The MP said: “It doesn’t make sense that his immaculate and highly polished tractors and machinery, used for exhibition purposes were refused entry at Larne Port”.
Lockhart added: “The integrity of the UK internal market is in jeopardy. Instead of inflicting constitutional harm, the government must stand up and challenge these oppressive EU laws.
“Business owners deserve clarity and fairness, not more red tape that is choking their livelihoods.”
