Post-Brexit food labelling branded ‘bureaucratic madness’
Marks and Spencer’s general manager, Windsor Framework’s last phase of the “bureaucratic madness” as a major aspect, because more than 1,000 products for Northern Ireland will soon require labeling “not for the EU”.
Stuart Machin described the new requirement as “unnecessary costs for retailers and bureaucracy layer” and revealed significant operational difficulties.
From next week, a significant portion of M & S’s product range for Northern Ireland will have to be affixed to these special labels.
The post -Brexit trade agreement, known as Windsor Framework, has been introduced since the adoption of “Not for the EU” labels since its adopted in 2023.
This framework was negotiated between England and the European Union to solve the complexities of the North Ireland protocol, which effectively maintains Northern Ireland in the EU’s trade orbit.
Strict labeling rules are designed to prevent the UK market from accidentally entering the EU single market through the Republic of Ireland.
Despite the current friction, the British government recently stated that a more fluent trade flow after the new sanitary and Phytosaniter agreement with the EU was finalized.
Mr. Machin said he was hopeful that the stickers could be unnecessary after the new agreement.
He went to social media on Friday to express his disappointment.
“Next week, he sees that the final stage of the Windsor frame is enacted and adds another unnecessary cost and bureaucracy layer for food retailers such as M&A.
“400 will have to perform additional controls on ‘Red Lane’.
“Obviously bureaucratic madness is confusing for customers and is completely unnecessary, considering that the UK has some of the highest food standards in the world.
“The government’s SPS agreement with the EU will change the game and cannot come soon!”
