Northern Irish community ‘struggling for kosher meat’ due to Brexit protocol

Northern Ireland’s Jewish community is struggling to get kosher meat in time for the Passover festival due to Brexit.

The post-Brexit trade arrangements have disrupted supplies from Great Britain, as extra paperwork has caused a series of bureaucratic obstacles since the end of the post-Brexit transition period.

Northern Ireland has a small Jewish community of around 80 people, centred around north Belfast.

First Minister Arlene Foster said: “This is something which is very concerning.

“We have a very small Jewish community here in Northern Ireland. The fact that they cannot access kosher meat is something that would cause me a great deal of concern.”

A Board of Deputies spokesperson said: “We are concerned about the issue and raised it with the Government to see if we can find a means of resolving it.”

Passover begins towards the end of this month.

The UK Government has unilaterally extended some grace periods associated with the protocol in a bid to avoid a cliff-edge plunge into extra paperwork.

The protocol is a post-Brexit arrangement designed to keep the Irish border open by ensuring Northern Ireland continues to follow the EU’s trading rules.

The DUP has vowed to overthrow it over fears it damages the integrity of the UK internal market and Northern Ireland’s place in it.