Member

There were also questions about why EU laws and standards will continue to apply in Northern Ireland. Under the Windsor Framework agreement, agri-food goods produced and processed in Northern Ireland are required to meet EU standards. We have worked very hard to listen to feedback from farmers, food producers and food manufacturers in Northern Ireland, who told us that they prized their ability to produce and sell food across both the Great Britain and EU markets. I visited a very large dairy business just outside Belfast recently, and this is what they were focused on. They were also very keen that they remain an integral part of UK food supply chains with unfettered market access; however, at the same time, they need to be able to grow and develop their existing production models. As my noble friend Lady Ritchie said, we simply cannot allow our agri-food industry to be undermined—this is also a priority for the Government.