Allister attacks German stance on NI trade
07 August 2007
Statement by Jim Allister MEP:
"The threatened refusal by Germany to admit Northern Ireland exports of dairy and pork products is a disgraceful and unacceptable breach of the rules of the internal market by an EU member. Under the rules of the internal market free trade is guaranteed and since there are no public health grounds to abrogate this right, there can be no justification for the German stance.
Accordingly, I have been in contact with the office of the Internal Market Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, urging him to insist with Germany that they honour their obligations under EU rules.
I have also been in touch with the office of the Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, urging him to intervene with Japan and the USA in respect of their threatened bans on NI produce. With our certified foot & mouth-free status there can be no justification whatever for any restriction on movement of goods from this part of the UK.
Nor is Minister Gildernew above criticism. Instead of slipping into self-congratulatory mode on Monday, she ought to have been working vigorously with Brussels at that point to deliver the separate export certification for Northern Ireland produce which the dairy sector in particular needed."
