New EU arsenic rules catch N Ireland between Brussels and London
New EU rules slashing the amount of arsenic permitted in baby food have highlighted how Northern Ireland is caught between different rules set by Brussels and London, despite this month’s new post-Brexit trading agreement.
Days after UK and EU leaders sealed their deal last week, Brussels cut the level of the carcinogenic substance allowed in infant formula and baby food by 80 per cent and set limits for its use in rice, fruit juice and salt.
Michael Bell, executive director of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, a trade body, said his members were likely to adopt the EU’s higher standards, which will take effect this month. “We are trying to maintain the ability to trade both to Europe and GB which was possible before Brexit,” he said.
While the baby food sector in Northern Ireland is relatively small, he added that the broader food and drink business is the largest industry in the region, employing 113,000 people.
Maintaining alignment with EU food legislation to ensure it can continue to export means the question of different food standards will “go on and on”, he added, since the EU comes up with scores of new rules annually.
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Jude Webber
