M&S: Will a Brexit Border Deal Ease Supply Chain Woes?
An agreement to end post-Brexit controls at the Irish Sea border by 2027 could result in more efficient supply chain operations between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The UK and EU have confirmed the border will remain until then, following a series of negotiations.
The trade border has been a point of contention since its introduction in 2021, creating major delays for British goods, particularly food products, entering Northern Ireland due to the extensive checks required to meet EU regulations.
A deal has been reached to cease these checks, with a view to UK legislation being drafted in 2026 for full implementation the following year.
Post-brexit supply chain disruption
The Irish Sea border is the trade boundary between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI).
It was established in January 2021 as part of the Brexit deal, which kept NI aligned with EU regulations to maintain seamless trade with the Republic of Ireland.
Consequently, goods arriving in NI from GB have been subject to checks to ensure they comply with EU standards.
In an effort to reduce the restrictions on GB products, the Windsor Framework was signed in 2023 to regulate the Irish Sea Border.
Despite this, operational issues continued to affect supply chains.
A subsequent deal between the EU and UK in May 2025 meant an end to physical checks on GB food products and horticultural items like seeds at Northern Ireland's ports.
The cost of bureaucracy for food businesses
The border has been a source of major supply chain delays and increased shipping costs for the food industry.
The added layers of paperwork have extended delivery times for fresh food crossing the Irish Sea, leading to higher operational costs, food wastage and product shortages in stores.
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director at M&S Food, highlighted the scale of the challenge.
"Before Brexit, the requirements were simple. Fill the lorry in the depot and send it on its way with one piece of paper listing what was in the trailer. But tonight our trucks travelling to the Republic of Ireland were loaded yesterday and sat idle for 16 hours before setting off, now armed with over 200 pieces of paper," explained Freudmann.
He added that the paperwork demands "detail as niche as the Latin name for the chicken that is used in our Chicken Tikka Masala. And that is just for the products we are able to send to our Irish stores. Sausages, burgers and some fresh sandwiches can no longer be sent from the UK at all."
Seeking a path to efficiency
The administrative burden has had a major financial impact on food retailers.
According to Alex, securing a Veterinary Agreement with the EU is a key step to "reduce the unnecessary bureaucracy involved in moving lasagne from London to Dublin, as well as importing chorizo from Spain."
He detailed the extent of the issue for M&S, stating, "Around 7,000 different M&S products destined for Irish customers – around a third of our catalogue – require Export Health Certificates. And each certificate, bizarrely, needs a signature from a vet – costing well over £1m a year in vet fees and adding hours of admin time."
This process can lead to "very long delays, wasted food and gaps on shelves for our valued Irish customers."
Beyond large retailers, smaller businesses have also faced difficulties, with some suppliers pausing shipping overseas entirely while the border controls are in place.
"Five years on, it is time to put an end to the Brexit bureaucracy that burdens both UK and Irish businesses. My ask of the Government is to move with pace of action, not just words – at a time when the UK’s food businesses and farmers need all the help they can get," says Alex.
The planned removal of these prohibitive checks and controls is hoped to greatly increase supply chain efficiency and foster better trade relationships between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. For many businesses across the food sector, the 2027 deadline cannot come soon enough.
