Belfast, Northern Ireland: Food producers and distributors in Northern Ireland face disruption from today as government vets began a five-day strike. Some meat plants and abattoirs may have to shut, resulting in disruption to the food supply chain but supermarkets are playing down any risk of product shortages.
Stormont’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, which employs the vets, said it would prioritise staffing at poultry factories although it “cannot guarantee the provision of official controls and activities across all slaughter and animal processing establishments from 30 October to 3 November”. The red meat sector intends to keep major plants operating and is not anticipating shortages for consumers.
The strike will mean some products, so called red lane goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, which are due to be moved on the Republic of Ireland or that have an uncertain final destination, will need to be shipped through Dublin rather than Belfast. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said that during the strike green lane products should be sent as normal and the usual paperwork will be carried out retrospectively.
The major supermarkets anticipate minimal disruption as they send the vast majority of their products via the green lane. Non-supermarket operators, such as wholesalers and food service, will face a bigger challenge as they make greater use of the red lane and so will have to divert more of their shipments to Dublin.
