M&S CEO Stuart Machin called new labelling requirements “unnecessary” as regulations came into force.
The new regulations will require companies from Northern Ireland to label some of their products as ‘Not for EU’ to ensure goods are not moved onwards into the EU.
During the first and second phases, the requirements were that all meat and dairy products were individually labelled. As of 1st July, the third phase required individual labels for some composite products, fruit, vegetables, eggs and fish to name a few.
Where products are not individually labelled with ‘Not for EU’, the box or crate must be labelled. In Northern Ireland, supermarkets and retailers are also required to make sure there is “appropriate visibility” to customers in store that these goods are not to be sold in the EU.
In a social media post on ‘X’, Machin said the the final phase of the Windsor Framework would add “yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape for food retailers like M&S”.
He highlighted that more than 1000 M&S products destined for Northern Ireland would need ‘Not for EU’ labels to be stuck on them, while another 400 would need to go through additional checks.
Machin commented: “Quite frankly it’s bureaucratic madness, confusing for customers, and completely unnecessary given the UK has some of the highest food standards in the world.
“The Government’s SPS deal with the EU will be game-changing, and it can’t come soon enough!”
Government said that authorities will carry out “risk-based and intelligence-led” checks to ensure that these requirements are in place.
FSB highlights impact on smaller retailers
Alan Lowry, chair of the Federation for Small Businesses Northern Ireland, stated: “While some may be focused on the long-term promise of streamlined UK-EU trade, the lived experience on the ground tells a different story.
“From today – Tuesday 1st July – ‘Not for EU’ food labelling becomes mandatory on thousands of products, despite the UK Government’s recent announcements that such requirements will ultimately be phased out under a new deal. For many small businesses, this is too little, too late – and another example of policy being made without a realistic understanding of what it takes to run a business on the ground.
“If the CEO of one of the UK’s most established food retailers finds the system hugely bureaucratic, ‘adding yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape’, how can we expect small firms – often with just a handful of staff – to cope?
“Our research found that more than half (56%) of small firms affected by the Framework lack the confidence to plan 12 months ahead. When the rules are unclear, guidance is slow, and Government support is patchy or absent, it becomes nearly impossible to make long-term investment decisions.
“So today, as ‘Not for EU’ labelling becomes a new daily challenge for many, we urge Government to reconsider the pace and practicality of these rules. If the Windsor Framework is truly to deliver prosperity, it must be adapted to serve the needs of those it affects most directly.”
