Over the next few weeks, people in Northern Ireland will notice familiar products on supermarket shelves being replaced with items from the Republic and the rest of the EU – or so industry sources have informed the BBC.

This is because Britain’s Labour government has reneged on a deal its Conservative predecessor made with the DUP. In January’s Safeguard the Union command paper, the Tories promised sea border labelling requirements would be imposed across the UK rather than just within Northern Ireland. British food and drink producers would be left with little reason not to supply the region as they would have to meet a key requirement of supplying it anyway.

Naturally, many producers were unhappy and lobbying efforts began. Media reports claimed consumers thought the “Not for EU” labels meant goods were considered unfit for consumption on the continent. Although these stories were based on a handful of social media posts, the narrative had been set.

On Monday, the Labour government announced labelling will not be required in Britain. Instead, ministers and officials will “work intensively with industry” to maintain supplies to Northern Ireland. Only if this fails will UK-wide labelling become mandatory.

The UK’s Food and Drink Federation........

© The Irish Times