Brexit and Beyond

13 October 2025

 

Welcome to this week's Brexit & Beyond newsletter!

This week we take a closer look at the recent EU vote to ban meat related terms from  the packaging labels of plant-based alternatives. We also explore media, political and industry commentary on the EU steel tariffs and we reflect on the recent UK Trade Mission to India.

As the roll-out of the new EES system begins, we highlight the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, which at its meeting this week, will explore this topic further. Plus, we link through to some of this week’s updates and news stories that you may have missed.  

As always, we appreciate feedback from our readers – so if you have any comments on this edition or have ideas for future content, you can email us at info@brexitandbeyond.niassembly.gov.uk.   

 

 EU votes to ban meat related terms from the packaging labels of plant-based food

During the EU’s plenary session on Wednesday 8 October, MEPs voted in favour of an amendment that would see meat related terms banned from the packaging labels of plant-based alternatives. With the European Parliament’s position now agreed, negotiations with the Council of the EU, known as trilogues - are expected to begin this week.

In a post on X, the amendment proposer, French MEP, Céline Imart described the vote as a: “Great victory for farmers in the European Parliament!” In the same post, she stated: “A sausage is meat produced by our farmers. Period. The appreciation of their work and transparency towards consumers won over the community.”

However, environmentalists and leading voices within the German food industry have been critical of the move, with the BBC reporting that “Major German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl, fast food joint Burger King and sausage producer Rügenwalder Mühle have pushed back against the proposal in a joint open letter.”

Various news outlets, including the Belfast Telegraph, quote Rafael Pinto, senior policy manager at the European Vegetarian Union as saying that there was: “…abundant data from several EU countries showing that consumers are not confused by the use of these terms and are not buying plant-based products by accident.” 

The matter was also raised in the Assembly on Tuesday 7 October by Timothy Gaston MLA, during Members Statements. 

Back in February 2025, the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee (DSC) agreed to monitor this proposed Regulation.  You can access the evidence gathered by the Committee to date here.  Part of the proposed Regulation, in its current form, is expected to apply in Northern Ireland subject to the democratic scrutiny procedures outlined in article 13(3a) of the Windsor Framework. However, the UK Government has indicated in its Explanatory Memorandum that requirements introduced by this proposal - if adopted by the EU -  would not apply to products moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland via the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.

 EU Steel Tariffs 

On Tuesday 7 October, the EU Commission announced a proposal to significantly increase tariffs on all steel imports into the bloc, to 50%, up from the current 25%. The volume of steel that can be imported tariff-free will also be cut by 47%. The proposals, if approved by the European Parliament and the majority of EU member states, would replace the current quota system which has been in place since 2018 and is due to expire in 2026. 

Responding to the tariff announcement, the Assistant General Secretary of the Community union, (which represents UK steelworkers) Alasdair McDiarmid, described the EU proposal as representing: “…an existential threat to our steel industry.”  He continued: “We would urge the UK and EU to begin urgent negotiations and do everything possible to prevent the crushing impact these proposals would have on our steel industry.” 

Posting on X, the EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security,  Maroš Šefčovič said: “Our proposed Steel Regulation will restore balance - necessary, effective, yet balanced. We're committed to rules-based trade but must defend our interests. We'll soon engage with partners.” 

Meanwhile, as reported by a number of news outlets including the BBC, the UK’s Industry Minister, Chris McDonald MP said: "It's vital we protect trade flows between the UK and EU and we will work with our closest allies to address global challenges rather than adding to our industries' woes." The Minister met with leaders from the UK steel trade organisations and unions on Thursday 9 October to discuss concerns over the new tariffs. 

 

UK Trade Mission to India

Following the UK-India trade deal in July, the Prime Minster Keir Starmer led a 125-strong delegation to India last week, which included Professor Margaret Topping from Queen’s University. Queen"s University is set to become the first Russell Group institution to establish a campus in GIFT City, India’s leading financial and technology hub.

Speaking about the mission, Professor Topping said: “It was a privilege to be involved and to share our vision to enhance global opportunities for academic and research partnerships with members of the trade delegation. This visit is about building on already well-established collaborations with Indian businesses, industry and academic partnerships that will help deliver a more connected world.”

At a press conference last Thursday, the Prime Minister said that the trade mission was about: “…delivering real results for the British people, securing new investments into the UK worth £1.3 billion, and creating 10,600 jobs.” He added that this would include: “…700 [jobs] in Northern Ireland.”

 

Roll-out of EU Entry-Exit System begins

The new EU Entry-Exit System (EES) entered the first stage of its six-month roll out on Sunday. The biometric border control protocol mandates that non-EU travellers provide fingerprints and facial scans when entering (or exiting) the Schengen/Schengen-associated area.

As covered in our 1 October edition of Brexit and Beyond, the EU says this will modernise border management across the European countries using EES, make border checks more efficient, combat identity fraud through biometric data collection, improve internal security, and help tackle terrorism and serious organised crime.

In a recent article, European Business Magazine takes a deep dive into the background, the financial and political costs and the potential impact on travellers, including those from the UK.  

On Tuesday, 14 October, the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee is holding a session on the launch of the EES, when it will take evidence from the travel journalist and broadcaster, Simon Calder; Dr Niovi Vavoula, Senior Lecturer in Migration and Security at the Queen Mary University of London; and Simon Lejeune, Chief Safety and Stations and Security Officer at Eurostar. Topics are expected to include: the UK’s preparedness for the EES launch and the impact at the juxtaposed borders, variations in introduction between EU countries and on the UK Government’s communication plan. You can watch the evidence session live from 10.30am.

 

Upcoming Events: 

• On Friday, October 24, Queen’s Policy Engagement will host an online Post-Brexit Clinic with David Phinnemore and Katy Hayward, which will include an analysis of developments and the findings of the most recent Lucid Talk polling on the Protocol/Windsor Framework. Tickets are free and can be booked via Eventbrite.

• On Tuesday 21 October, the UKICE (UK in a Changing Europe ) will host an online ‘Lunch Hour: the state of the European Union’.  Speakers include: Anand Menon, UK in a Changing Europe (chair), Fabian Zuleeg, European Policy Centre and Christine Reh, Hertie School. Tickets are free and can again be booked via Eventbrite.  

 

 In case you missed it…

• The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, is expected to present the Commission Work Programme (CWP) for 2026 to MEPs in plenary on 21 October.

• An Irish News article on 6 October reported: ‘Online retailers in China using Northern Ireland post-Brexit rules to avoid VAT, experts say’

• The EU published a decision last week that Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 be added to Annex 2 of the Windsor Framework. The topic is explored in a new Research Matters blog, ‘EU forced labour regulations: an addition to the Windsor Framework?’