Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that the Irish agrifood industry has adapted post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60615/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Since the end of the Brexit transition period, (from 1st January 2021), there were initial difficulties adjusting to the new trading environment. These have now largely settled down.

In general, businesses have done a good job adjusting to new import control requirements applicable to commodities coming from Britain.

This reflects the flexibility and adaptability of businesses in Ireland, as well as the very effective collaboration that took place between business operators and the State bodies responsible for implementing what has been the single biggest change to import controls since the Single Market was first created in 1990.

Investment by my Department and other state agencies in new infrastructure and staff resources to control imports of agri-food products from Great Britain has minimised any disruption to Ireland-UK supply chains.

A number of agri-food and fisheries schemes have been approved for funding from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), with both the agriculture and fisheries sectors highlighted as those most vulnerable to the impacts of Brexit.

Trade with the United Kingdom was disrupted in early 2021 and, while exports to the UK have recovered and grown, imports have not recovered to pre-2021 levels. Agri-food exports to the UK to end of September 2022 are €4.9 billion, up €733m on same period in 2021 or 17.4% in value.

As well as finding diversified markets for our food and drink exports, Bord Bia is continuing to assist Irish exporters to defend and grow their share of the valuable UK market. I was pleased to engage with key trade customers in London recently, and to see their strong commitment to sourcing quality assured, sustainably produced Irish food and drink.

Imports from the UK were impacted negatively during the early months of 2021, before a recovery. Imports for the first nine months of 2022 are €3.2 billion, which is up by 22% on the same period in 2021.

The UK Government postponed the introduction of its new SPS import controls to be applied to import of EU agri-food products on three occasions in 2021, including requirements for export health certification. These new requirements were deferred again in April 2022, to at least end of 2023.

My Department, in cooperation with the sector, continue to prepare for any changes to UK import control requirements to ensure that any disruption to our exports is minimised.