SPAR-tan Measures

 The self-styled Spartans of the ERG have finally won their long battled-for Brexit, and the UK has left the European Union. 

But not all of it.  

In short, because of the historic sensitivities around the border between Eire and Northern Ireland, the Withdrawal Agreement committed to maintaining a open border between the EU and Northern Ireland, allowing for the free-flow of goods, service and people between the two.  Essentially, Northern Ireland remains in the EU, whilst still being part of the UK, whilst the rest of Great Britain is a non-EU country.  This, effectively, puts a border down the Irish Sea.  Although the government claims that none exists.  Indeed, only three days ago, the Northern Ireland Secretary, Brandon Lewis, a man suited to High Office in a very specific and limited way, said Brexit had "not created a border in the Irish Sea". 

Because there is no border, anyone now wishing to ship a product containing any animal part from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and vice versa, must now fill out an Export Health Certificate for each product. Every time that product crosses the Irish Sea. These certificates have to be completed by specialists.  Such as vets.  They cost up to £150 per certificate. 

Because there is no border, the government has set up a scheme to compensate anyone who now has to fill out Export Health Certificates.

Because there is no border, Sainsburys has entered into a deal with Henderson Wholesale, who supply the SPAR grocery chain and have distribution centres across Ireland, to stock some SPAR branded products on shelves in their Northern Ireland stores so customers aren't faced with empty shelves. 

Sainsburys reckon they will 'lose' around 700 products from their shelves - bacon, sausages, pasta sauces, deli products, dairy items, ready-meals, desserts, etc. - due to Brexit.  The measure is a temporary one until such time as local replacements can be sourced and/or "border arrangements are confirmed". It's unprecedented, certainly in the UK, for a major supermarket chain to be stocking branded products from a rival chain on its shelves.  

Leonidas would be so proud.