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Brexit: New checks possible on imports to Northern Ireland, government admits

The news comes despite PM Boris Johnson pledging last year "there won't be checks" created as a result of his tweaked deal.

Wednesday 20 May 2020 18:59, UK

LARNE, NORTHERN IRELAND - NOVEMBER 14: Port officers inspect vehicles at a harbour checkpoint on November 14, 2018 in Larne, Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Theresa May is locked in talks with her cabinet as she attempts to push through an agreement between UK negotiators and their European Union counterparts relating to the United Kingdom's departure from the EU. The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland has been a contentious issue during the Brexit talks. The harbour port of Larne has been suggested as a possible border entry checkpoint for agriculture livestock and goods to avoid a so called 'hard border'. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Image: The government says no separate customs infrastructure will be built
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The government has admitted for the first time there could be new checks on goods sent to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

The announcement comes after Boris Johnson told Sky News in December "there won't be checks" created as a result of his tweaked Brexit deal.

Under the move revealed today, customs facilities in Northern Ireland will be "expanded" under the fall-back option if no trade deal is struck with the EU by the end of the year.

Any extension to the transition period must be agreed by the end of June
Image: Any extension to the transition period must be agreed by the end of June

These would be used to process new electronic import declaration requirements, to check whether businesses are exempt from tariffs because the goods are staying in Northern Ireland or should pay them as the objects are heading on into the EU.

But the government is insisting no separate customs infrastructure will be built.

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December: Documents 'are wrong on NI checks' - PM

Its document explaining how the measures will work said: "What the protocol does not do is create - nor does it include any provision for creating - any kind of international border in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Northern Ireland."

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said given most of Northern Ireland's trade is with Great Britain, he is "safeguarding the free flow of goods within the UK's internal market".

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Analysis: Johnson's deal for Northern Ireland is not what was claimed
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He added "it makes sense to protect supply chains and the disease-free status" on the island of Ireland by keeping checks on agriculture, food and live animal movements arriving there.

"That will mean some expansion of existing infrastructure to provide for some additional new processes," he confirmed.

LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 18: Irish police stand on the southern side of the border as US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits the border between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland on April 18, 2019 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The leading Democrat politician is on a four day visit to the island of Ireland discussing Brexit among other matters
Image: The move is to prevent a hard border reforming on the island of Ireland

Labour said the news "exposed the broken promises made by the prime minister".

Shadow cabinet office minister Rachel Reeves told the Commons the government is "not willing to admit the full extent" of checks and tariffs traders face if their cargo is deemed to be "at risk" of being transported on from Northern Ireland to be sold in the Republic of Ireland.

"We have seven months to get this right and we must," she added.

It comes after talks with the EU turned sour, when Downing Street's chief negotiator David Frost accused Brussels of only offering a "low-quality" trade deal.

Some fear fear the escalation in tensions in a letter could be paving the way to a no-deal end to the transition period at the end of 2020.

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