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Lack of Cork border control post driving up food prices, say TD and importers
A full border control post for the Port of Cork is again being sought to facilitate inspections of agricultural products. Cork East Fianna Fáil TD James O'Connor asked agriculture, food, and marine minister Martin Heydon in the Dáil to consider the move.
The Port of Cork Company previously stated that the current system results in higher prices for consumers of products such as bananas, pineapples, melons, grapes, and citrus fruits.
Food importers have also claimed at least 2,000 shipping containers of fruit and veg a year, which could be landed in Cork, were being diverted to ports in Britain or Europe, for transit back to Ireland for the required checks in Dublin.
Mr O'Connor, who raised the issue in the Dáil, said a full border control post is needed in Cork.
It is required to facilitate consignments of food, food contact materials, animals, feed, and plants that are subject to increased import controls that must enter the EU.
Mr O'Connor said the lack of a post is severely impacting the growth of the port while causing additional pollutant emissions and increasing costs for importers and consumers.
Mr Heydon said the port is designated a border control post for container shipments of wood and wood products only
The Port of Cork company submitted a business case to the Department in October 2022 requesting approval for a full post.
Organic sector
Much of the benefit expected would accrue to the fruit, vegetable, and organic sector. The department considered the proposal and engaged with the company.
'At the time, it was considered that this proposal did not demonstrate a significant increase of trade to justify the investment in terms of exchequer resources required to run a [border control post],' he said.
Mr O'Connor also asked if the department would consider granting temporary derogations of three to six months to prevent disruption to seasonal goods imports needing physical inspection.
This would give the port greater flexibility to encourage importers to use Cork and boost trade, while avoiding additional pollutant emissions and increased costs for importers and consumers, he said.
Mr Heydon said EU member states are required to perform official controls on live animals, plants, plant products and products of animal origin as required under the European regulation.
There are four designated posts in Ireland — located at Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Rosslare Europort, and Shannon Airport.
The designation of posts must be approved by the European Commission and necessitates compliance with detailed rules on minimum requirements for infrastructure, professional staff, equipment, and commodity-specific requirements.
Mr Heydon said derogations from these requirements are not provided for in this legislation
Cork Port is a designated border control posts for bulk consignments of roundwood logs, but is not designated for live animals, products of animal origin, plants, plant products or organic goods.
During 2024, a facilitation was allowed for the importation of melons through the port. This was not a derogation from the requirements for post approval.
It was a specific facilitation that allows for a very small number of plants and plant products deemed, on assessment, as presenting minimal risk to the plant health status of the EU.
The small number of plants eligible for this facilitation is still subject to identity and physical inspections.
A similar facilitation for products of animal origin, live animals, and for most plants and products of plant origin cannot be legally provided, he said.
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