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British cheeses may become a rarity on the shelves of Northern Ireland\u2019s delicatessen stores unless a fresh Brexit deal is agreed, a business owner has said.<\/p>\nBritish cheeses may become a rarity on the shelves of Northern Ireland\u2019s delicatessen stores unless a fresh Brexit deal is agreed, a business owner has said.<\/p>\n
The Brexit Protocol will see Britain leave the EU customs union and single market while Northern Ireland continues to follow those rules.<\/p>\n
This will mean export health certificates will be required for every different animal-based food product shipped from Britain to Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Supermarkets and other food retailers have been given three months to adjust to the requirements of the new SPS checks.<\/p>\n
However, Mark Brown, of Arcadia Delicatessen in Belfast, said he fears that, from April, he will no longer be able to offer as much choice for his customers.<\/p>\n
He criticized a lack of information from the government, saying most of what he knows he has learned from media.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone really knows how it is going to pan out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope business finds a way of sorting it out because, at the moment, after April, I probably won\u2019t be having any English, Scottish or Welsh cheese.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have tried to seek out alternatives but of course the likes of Stilton is only made in Stilton in England. It just means we could end up with less diversity and less choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole point of a small deli like mine is that we offer stuff that people cannot get elsewhere because I import it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been trying to contact suppliers in London but they aren\u2019t answering the phone, which isn\u2019t like them. I\u2019m not sure if it\u2019s the Northern Ireland number or that they are just so busy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have stockpiled hard cheeses but soft cheeses are the problem initially.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Brown said he also fears lorries being delayed: \u201cIf a lorry gets stuck coming into Northern Ireland, the fresh foods may not be sellable by the time they get to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael Thomson makes his own cheese as well as buying in other varieties to sell as part of his business, Mike\u2019s Fancy Cheeses.<\/p>\n
He also criticized a lack of information from the government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe buy a few English cheeses in, we had thought that because of the export health certificate that we just wouldn\u2019t stock English cheeses but that might all change,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur preparation has been to have enough stuff to last January and February, and then see what happens from there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have always chosen producers we know and like, and work directly with them. They\u2019re lovely cheeses.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we\u2019re a small shop, we have been able to explain directly to customers what is going on.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe choose to buy direct but now we\u2019re being lumbered with the paperwork rather than if we bought through a wholesaler.\u201d<\/p>\n