‘Not for EU’ labelling prompts concern over rising food prices

Food and Drink Federation raises concerns about imposing “complex” labels before necessary, whereby increasing costs for manufacturers and consumers

Representatives from the UK food and drinks sector have expressed concern about costs after it was confirmed that ‘not for EU’ labels are to be introduced on all goods targeted at the domestic market. 

The labels indicate that the product is not guaranteed to conform to EU standards and thus may not legally be sold, or resold, in the EU. The move, introduced as part of the Windsor Framework between the UK and EU, is designed to ensure goods don’t move into the Republic of Ireland, an EU member country.

A UK government spokesperson said that the labels are “designed to support retailers and supermarkets to move food and drink products between Great Britain and Northern Ireland as smoothly as possible”.

The spokesperson explained: “It means suppliers will not have to establish different production lines to be able to sell goods in Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland, ensuring products remain on the shelves and consumer choice is maintained.”

Andrea Martinez-Inchausti, Assistant Director of Food at the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the BRC wanted “minimal friction” for goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and added that it supports the aims of the Windsor Framework to achieve this.  

She said: “We welcome the consultation on GB labelling and hope the government is open to ideas as to how businesses can ensure that goods intended for the British market do not end up entering the EU through Northern Ireland.” 

However, she added that any new measures “must be proportionate to the risk and should not add unnecessary costs at a time when the cost of living is already high”.

Costs were also an issue for Karen Betts, CEO of the Food and Drink Federation. She said: “Our members have worked hard to ensure that shops in Northern Ireland continue to be comprehensively well-stocked under the new Windsor Framework rules, and we think this is working.” 

But she felt that “imposing costly, complex labelling changes before we know it is necessary risks pushing up manufacturing costs, and ultimately prices for consumers across the UK.”

“I would not be surprised if some companies decide it’s a wave too far and they will stop sending their products to Northern Ireland.”

Christopher Elliott, Professor of Food Safety at the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, went further and described the regulation as “utterly senseless”. 

He said: “There will be additional cost to industry who can only pass this onto consumers. Ironically, the consumers will be those in Northern Ireland who, by a large majority, voted to remain within the EU.

“I would not be surprised if some companies decide it’s a wave too far and they will stop sending their products to Northern Ireland.”

A government spokesperson countered that that labelling has rolled out smoothly since October last year with “no evidence of overall negative commercial impact”.

The spokesperson added that the government is continuing to “engage extensively with businesses to support them in adapting to the new arrangements” and that it has launched a £50m Windsor Framework Transitional Labelling Financial Assistance Scheme to support businesses.

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