Britain and Brussels agree truce to avoid ‘sausage war’

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Britain and Brussels FINALLY agree a truce to avoid ‘sausage wars’ over chilled meat exports to Northern Ireland – but it is only temporary as a permanent fix to post-Brexit border problems remains elusive

  • UK and the EU have agreed a truce to avoid a ‘sausage war’ over exports to NI
  • But the deal between the two sides only temporary and will last for three months
  • UK and Brussels will now resume efforts to find permanent fix to border problem

By Jack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:


Britain and Brussels have agreed to a truce to avoid a ‘sausage war’ over exports of chilled meats to Northern Ireland – but it is only temporary. 

The UK and the EU announced this afternoon that a deal has been done to ensure sausages and other products can still be sent from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. 

Lord Frost, the Cabinet Office minister responsible for Brexit matters, said a grace period on the exports will be extended to September 30, a move which he described as a ‘sensible’ step. 

But the two sides remain deadlocked on how to permanently fix post-Brexit border problems in Northern Ireland. 

Lord Frost said the extension of the grace period is a ‘positive first step but we still need to agree a permanent solution’.  

Lord Frost, the Cabinet Office minister, said a grace period on the exports will be extended to September 30, describing this as a ‘sensible’ step.

He said in a statement: ‘We are pleased we have been able to agree a sensible extension on chilled meats moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland – one that does not require rules in the rest of the UK to align with future changes in EU agrifood rules.

‘This is a positive first step but we still need to agree a permanent solution – Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom and its consumers should be able to enjoy products they have bought from Great Britain for years.

‘This is a very clear sign that the Protocol has to be operated in a pragmatic and proportionate way. 

‘The chilled meats issue is only one of a very large number of problems with the way the Protocol is currently operating, and solutions need to be found with the EU to ensure it delivers on its original aims: to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, safeguard Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom, and protect the EU’s single market for goods. We look to work energetically with the EU to do so.