Council Decision (EU) 2021/1157 of 30 June 2021 on the position to be taken on behalf of the Union in reaction to the unilateral declaration of the United Kingdom setting out the practice it intends to put in place as regards imports of meat products from Great Britain into Northern Ireland between 1 July and 30 September 2021

• CELEX: Decision (EU) 2021/1157
• Articles: 3

Article 1

The position to be expressed on the Union's behalf in reaction to the United Kingdom's unilateral declaration setting out the practice it intends to put in place as regards imports of meat products from Great Britain into Northern Ireland between 1 July and 30 September 2021 shall be based on the unilateral declaration of the Union attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX APPLICATION OF UNION LAW RELATED TO MEAT PRODUCTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AFTER THE END OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD

ANNEX

APPLICATION OF UNION LAW RELATED TO MEAT PRODUCTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND AFTER THE END OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD

UNILATERAL DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union takes note of the United Kingdom’s unilateral declaration setting out the practice it intends to put in place as regards imports of these meat products from Great Britain into Northern Ireland for the period 1 July until 30 September 2021. The Union notes that certain adjustments to supply chains have already taken place during the first six months of 2021. According to trade statistics, this is the case in particular as regards minced meat. The purpose of this additional period is to allow stakeholders, and in particular supermarkets in Northern Ireland, to complete the adjustment of their supply chains.

This practice will inform the position of the Union as regards recourse to the exercise of the powers referred to in Article 12(4) of the Protocol.

As referred to in the United Kingdom’s letter of 17 June proposing to extend the approach set out in its unilateral declaration of 17 December 2020 for three more months, during this period the United Kingdom proposes

‘to maintain the existing grace period arrangements that are in place for these movements’.

The Union recalls that the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement is an international legal obligation for the Union and the United Kingdom.

The Union notes that meat products that are subject to the channelling procedure referred to in the United Kingdom’s unilateral declaration must remain under the control of the Northern Ireland competent authorities at all stages of that procedure. The Union also underlines the importance of ensuring that Border Control Posts in Northern Ireland have the necessary infrastructure and resources to be able to perform all the controls required by the EU’s Official Controls Regulation.