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To highlight the benefits that businesses will see from a new UK Government and UK and EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, has today [Thursday 4 September] visited Wilson鈥檚 Country, a potato packing and processing business.

The visit follows a recent speech by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds, who outlined the Government鈥檚 priorities for the next phase of negotiations with the European Union.

In his speech, the Minister confirmed the Government鈥檚 commitment as part of its Plan for Change to improving the Brexit deal, which has been holding back UK businesses and restricting economic growth.

Speaking after his visit, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said:

My visit today 聽to Wilson鈥檚 Country has shown exactly why a practical approach to our relationship with the EU is so vital.

They couldn鈥檛 have been clearer about the need for a new deal on food and drink.

Businesses like this are the backbone of Northern Ireland鈥檚 economy, and once finalised, our SPS agreement will cut red tape, give these businesses the certainty they need to thrive, and help to further protect the UK internal market.

This isn鈥檛 just about trade, it鈥檚 about making life easier for people and businesses across Northern Ireland.

Wilson鈥檚 Country owner, Angus Wilson, said:

Brexit has been a very difficult challenge for our fast-moving fresh produce business, with delays in shipments affecting quality and at times adding often add significant costs to the supply chain.

Whilst the majority of our potatoes are sourced on the island of Ireland there are sometimes specific demands that necessitate the business importing potatoes from GB. On such occasions we now have the requirements for paperwork and checks that create the delays.

Wilson鈥檚 Country very much welcomes the announcement that the UK and EU have agreed an outline deal which, when implemented, will mean no physical checks on GB food products at NI ports.

Our request is simply that this will be implemented as soon as possible.

The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework.

The new approach is set to deliver a range of significant benefits for Northern Ireland. In particular the finalisation of these deals will make it easier to move goods across the Irish Sea, ensuring that Northern Ireland can continue to enjoy the same products as the rest of the UK.

Further linking the UK and EU emissions trading systems will avoid a potential 聽拢130 million per year on Northern Ireland energy bills under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Today鈥檚 visit coincides with the official publication of Lord Murphy of Torfaen鈥檚 Independent Review of the Windsor Framework.

Lord Murphy was appointed by the Secretary of State following the Consent Vote in December 2024 to carry out the Independent Review. The Review reflects the Government鈥檚 commitment to securing the broadest possible confidence of communities across Northern Ireland, and the Government will respond to the report鈥檚 recommendations by January next year.

Notes to editors

• The full text of the Minister for the Cabinet Office鈥檚 speech can be found聽here.
• The government鈥檚 mandate is to improve the UK鈥檚 relationship with the EU, building on the success of new trade deals with countries like India and the USA.
• The Independent Review of the Windsor Framework is available聽here.聽The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland鈥檚 Written Ministerial Statement is available聽.