AQW 4297/22-27

Mr Jim Allister KC
Traditional Unionist Voice
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 07/10/2022
Answered On Date: 20/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, in relation to the Protocol, what are the risks to the local farming industry of the impact of Plant Protection Products restrictions in terms of (i) supply issues; (ii) GB companies discontinuing trade; and (iii) prohibition on using products available in the rest of the UK.

Answer:

Departmental officials regularly liaise with manufacturers and grower groups on issues around Plant Protection Product availability arising from the Northern Ireland Protocol and the longer-term impacts of the UK’s exit from the EU.

Growers have indicated that they are having problems accessing some Plant Protection Products as a result of the Protocol. However, information received from manufacturers and local distributors suggests that whilst it may take longer to move goods into NI from GB, due to the paperwork needed (supplementary declarations, customs etc), supplies of authorised Plant Protection Products to NI currently remain largely unaffected by the Protocol to date. Recent indications are that the supply route to NI has changed in response to the Protocol, with EU and Internationally based manufacturers exporting through Ireland, rather than through GB.

I am not aware of any specific cases of GB companies ceasing trade in Plant Protection Products to NI, where the products are approved for use in NI. Pesticide authorisation holders are generally multi-national agrochemical companies with manufacturing largely outside of GB. Nevertheless, some pesticide manufacturers have suggested that the NI market may prove to be too small to cover the costs of future investment in an application for authorisation for NI. Therefore, as products come up for renewal or are being brought to the market for the first time, some companies may make a commercial decision not to submit an application for use in NI. I am aware that farmers are justifiably concerned that this will limit access to some Plant Protection Products, especially for smaller sectors.

Where there is no divergence with EU conditions of authorisations or EU Maximum Residue Limits (MRL’s), a GB and NI authorisation may be issued enabling NI growers access to the same products as GB growers. However, the timing of EU and GB decisions, and different decisions being taken, both as part of active substance reviews and MRL changes, means that divergence is occuring. This has resulted in the unavailability of some GB authorised pesticides in NI, which may be perceived by NI growers as giving GB growers a commercial advantage. The impact of divergence to date has been minimal or likely to be short term. However, changes to the GB regulatory regime, future trade deals and other factors may increase divergence and risk to access to products. The Department continues to monitor the situation.