Brexit and Beyond

01 December 2025

In this week’s edition, we cover last week’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee briefing on the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland and look back at this week’s debate in the House of Lords on dual vehicle approval schemes.    

In our regular ‘Assembly round-up’ we report back on other EU and Brexit related issues discussed in the Assembly last week and look forward to what’s on the agenda this week.  Our new ‘Parliamentary Planner’ section highlights upcoming debates and discussion topics at other legislatures. And as always, we link you through to news stories and items of interest you may have missed.    

Finally, a very big thank you to all that took the time to complete our ‘Brexit and Beyond’ Survey. Your feedback is invaluable and will help us to shape the content and format of future newsletters so that we can ensure they meet your needs and interests. 

• Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee briefed on supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland. 
• Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee echoes industry concerns on veterinary medicine supply. 
• House of Lords debate on dual vehicle approval schemes. 
• Chancellor unveils £16.6m package to boost support for local businesses. 
• European Parliament debates Implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. 
• Assembly Round-up.
• This Week in the Assembly.     
• Parliamentary Planner. 
• In case you missed it… 

 Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee briefed on Supply of Veterinary Medicines to Northern Ireland 

At its meeting on Thursday, 27 November, the Assembly’s Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs Committee heard directly from the North of Ireland Veterinary Association on the supply of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland. Thursday’s briefing followed a recent House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee evidence session on the issue which we covered in the 17 November issue of ‘Brexit and Beyond’  

Mark Little, the Honorary Secretary of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association told the Committee that while the UK Government has been: “…working hard and have created two schemes to try to continue to supply veterinary medicines…” he added, that: “…we are worried these schemes may not be workable in practice, and also place significant liability on vets to use them.”  

While also welcoming the introduction of the new schemes, Kirsten Dunbar, President of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association underlined the uncertainty that continues to exist, noting that their recommendation would be for the introduction of: “Northern Ireland-specific plain language, operational guidance” for vets, farmers and pet and horse owners, as soon as possible.  

She also advocated, in conjunction with the British Veterinary Association a suggestion for the establishment of an: “…implementation coordination group to support the transition.” She suggested that this could be a government led group, whose purpose would be to: “…share confidential, category level supply risk signals so that we can plan ahead.”  She added that the group could also: “…agree clinical shared fall-back pathways...” and: “…coordinate communication to vets, SQVs (Suitably Qualified Persons), farmers, horse owners and pet owners to prevent avoidable disruption, cost shocks or welfare consequences.”   

Member questions included: clarification on the lack of communication from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD); potential impacts on the price of veterinary medicines here and lack of clarity on what medicines might be discontinued. You can watch the full evidence session here: 

 Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee echoes industry concerns on veterinary medicine supply

The House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee has written to Minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds MP to express its concerns on the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.  The letter follows a Committee evidence session on 12 November with representatives from the North of Ireland Veterinary Association, the Animal Health Distributors Association and the Ulster Farmers’ Union.  

In the letter, the Committee Chairperson, Lord Carlile of Berriew highlighted a number of issues including: continuing uncertainty as to the scale of discontinuations; costs to farming and food security; the re-routing of supply and the risk of antimicrobial resistance through the potential unavailability of certain medicine pack sizes.   

The Committee Chair also asked about the government’s plans to provide plain operational guidance and if it would establish an implementation co-ordination group to support the transition. You can read the letter in full here:  

Meanwhile, nine organisations including the British Veterinary Association, the Ulster Farmers’ Union and the North of Ireland Veterinary Association have written to Baroness Hayman of Ullock, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The letter states: “Our shared concern is that, without greater coordination, there is a risk of disruption, increased cost pressures, rising workload and avoidable disease pressure at a time when veterinary capacity is already stretched.”  

The signatories further state that they seek: “… reassurance that arrangements will be in place to support consistent interpretation of the new schemes and to ensure that clear, timely communication reaches those who need it.” You can read the full letter here:  

 House of Lords debate on dual vehicle approval schemes

In the House of Lords Grand Committee on Tuesday, 25 November, Lord Dodds introduced a ‘Motion to Take Note’, on the Road Vehicles (Type-Approval) (Amendment) Regulations 2025. The Regulations, which came into force on 3 July 2025, amended assimilated law on road vehicle type approval to increase harmonisation and reduce approval certification costs for vehicle manufacturers.   

Regular readers will note that Tuesday’s debate follows an Economy Committee evidence session with the National Franchised Dealership Association (NFDA) on Wednesday, 19 November. At that meeting, NFDA representatives told the Committee that due to ongoing issues around the divergence of GB and EU type approval schemes for new cars, the local car industry was facing what they described as a “generational challenge.” You can read our coverage of the evidence session here:   

Speaking during Tuesday’s debate, Lord Dodds set out how dual regulatory regimes in Northern Ireland and Great Britain are impacting business and consumers, noting that: “In the first 10 months of the year, Northern Ireland’s car market is down by 6%, while the rest of the UK has grown by 5%, representing an estimated £50 million reduction in turnover.” He added that: “With 17,600 jobs supported by the sector, continued divergence will inevitably lead to job losses, business closures and long-term damage to consumer confidence.” 

Contributing to the debate, Baroness Richie observed that: “A consequence of Brexit is divergence.” However, she further noted that: “While the existence of two vehicle approval regimes in the UK is a consequence of the Windsor Framework, we urge the DfT to consider all potential barriers that manufacturers may face in obtaining dual approval and the resulting impact on NI”. 

Responding to the debate, the Minister of State, Lord Hendy of Richmond said that it was important that: “…dealers and consumers in Northern Ireland are not restricted in their choice of vehicle brands and models, and have the same choice as those across the rest of the UK.” He went on to state that: “The GB-type approval scheme, which these statutory instruments amend, was designed to support manufacturers to mark vehicles with both an EU and a GB approval; the Government fully expect manufacturers to do so.”   

In response to issues raised during the debate regarding additional costs, reduced availability of vehicles, and administrative complexity, Lord Hendy said he would: “…take the points that have been raised by noble Lords very seriously in order that we can make a success of moving the GB type approval scheme to its mandatory phase from February next year so that the market in Northern Ireland is vibrant and the people in it can continue to function.” The motion was agreed. You can watch the debate in full here:  

 Chancellor unveils £16.6m package to boost support for local businesses  

There was significant coverage of the announcement in last week’s Budget, that the UK Government is allocating an additional £16.6m: “…to support businesses and strengthen the UK internal market and backing advanced manufacturing through the Northern Ireland enhanced investment zone.” 

A UK Government press release explained the package would see: “…the creation of a ‘one stop shop’ support service to help businesses navigate the Windsor Framework, enabling businesses based in Northern Ireland to take advantage of their access to the UK and EU markets.” It noted that it would be delivered in partnership between the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive.  

The press release adds that out of the package, Intertrade UK is set to receive £2.25m to: “…strengthen trade links between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”  

 European Parliament debates Implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement 

On Wednesday, 26 November, the European Parliament debated a report presented by rapporteurs Thijs Reuten MEP and Nina Carberry MEP on the Implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.  

During the debate, Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commissioner for Trade told MEPs: “...we must remain united and be firm with the UK on respecting its obligations in full, whether they concern citizens' rights or the long-due delivery of all safeguards for the protection of our market under the Windsor Framework.”

 He added that: “Negotiations have been launched with the UK for a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, and for an agreement on linking the Union's and the UK's emissions trading scheme...and noted that this: “...clearly is good news for business operators and especially for SMEs.” You can read the full verbatim report of the debate here:  

 Assembly Round-up   

During Members Statements on Monday, Phillip Brett MLA discussed the Windsor Framework, with particular reference to the announcement that the UK Treasury are set to invest a further £16 million into what he described as: “…trying to sort out the impact of the Windsor Framework…”   

At Monday’s Question Time, the First Minister responded to a question on whether or not the Executive Office had any plans, in light of Lord Murphy’s Independent Review of the Windsor Framework, to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels.  The First Minister noted: “…a very useful meeting..” with the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Nick Thomas-Symonds on the 13 November, in which she said they had: “…outlined the importance of working together to ensure a pragmatic approach to addressing the issues raised in the report.” She added that: “One of the recommendations is that further staff be seconded or added to the Executive office in Brussels, and we welcome the recognition of the important role that that office has to play in providing information and upstream engagement on EU legislation.”

Responding to a further question on the need to do more to maximise dual market access, the First Minister agreed that this was: “...a real opportunity...” to grow the economy.  

In response to a question on whether she supported a call by 14 MEPs in a recent letter to the President of the European Parliament, to grant observer status to political representatives here, the First Minister said: “Our unique position in having access to both markets demands that we have direct access at an EU level. I therefore support that initiative and hope that we can continue to make the case for having our voice heard in the European Parliament.”

On Thursday, the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee (DSC) agreed its response to the recommendations in Lord Murphy’s ‘Independent Review of the Windsor Framework’ and to the recommendations in the report from the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee ‘Northern Ireland after Brexit: Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework’. You can read the Committee correspondence to the Secretary of State as well as the Committee’s full response here:  You can also catch-up on last week’s meeting in full here:

As always you can watch all plenary and Committee sittings of the Assembly live or on catch-up via niasssembly.tv    

 This Week in the Assembly

Today, during Private Members’ Business, a motion on Recognising Food Security will be debated by Members. The motion includes an expression of concern that agri-food businesses face significant trading barriers as a result of the Windsor Framework and the application of EU law. The motion further “condemns … the ongoing threat to the critical supply of veterinary medicines from Great Britain from 1 January 2026, as well as uncertainty surrounding new EU rules on deforestation-free products”. You can read the full text of the motion here:  

At Question Time on Tuesday, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA is expected to answer an oral question on what representations he has made to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on behalf of farmers and pet owners, in relation to the veterinary medicine deadline of 1 January 2026. The Minister is expected to respond to a further question on this issue in relation to whether or not he has any contingency plans in place for occasions where there is a reduction in the supply of veterinary medicines here. A question on how the Shared Island Fund is facilitating cross-border cooperation within agriculture, environment and rural affairs has also been tabled.  

On Wednesday, the Assembly’s Economy Committee will receive an oral update from Invest NI.

On Thursday, the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will receive a briefing from the Minister, Andrew Muir MLA which will include an update on the Department’s Legislative Programme, current issues and future plans. 

 Parliamentary Planner

Westminster:  

During oral questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is expected to respond to a question on any discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on strengthening the UK’s relationship with the EU.

Also on Tuesday, the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee will take evidence on UK trade with the US, India and EU, from a wide range of business representatives as well as, Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for Trade at Department for Business and Trade and Kate Thornley, Chief Negotiator, UK-India Free Trade Agreement at Department for Business and Trade.  

The supply of veterinary medicines is back in the spotlight on Wednesday when Robin Swann MP will hold at Westminster Hall debate on the issue. You can watch the debate here:  

Questions to the Cabinet Office on Thursday, include: what the Department’s priorities are in negotiations with the EU on a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement; progress on negotiations with the EU on a youth experience scheme; what steps the Minister is taking to help improve relations with the EU. The Minister is also expected to respond to a question regarding progress on implementing the agreement made with the EU in May 2025, as well as what progress he has made on improving the relationship between the Government and the devolved Administrations. 

Meanwhile, in the House of Lords on Thursday, a question has been tabled to ask His Majesty's Government: what assessment they have made of the European Commission’s decision of 24 June to extend the United Kingdom’s data adequacy status until 27 December; and what steps they are taking to ensure that the United Kingdom’s new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 maintains alignment with the EU data protection standards needed for a future adequacy agreement.  

You can watch proceedings in the House of Commons here and in the House of Lords here:  

The Scottish Parliament:  

Questions tabled to the Cabinet secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture during the plenary sitting on Wednesday include: what assessment has been made of the impact of the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on touring artists in Scotland, including any plans for discussion with the UK Government on this matter in advance of the forthcoming review of the Agreement. You can watch plenary sittings and Committee meetings here: 

The European Parliament:  

On Monday, the Committee on International Trade will debate the Fifth Annual Reports on the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union and on the Implementation and Enforcement of EU Trade policy. A further debate will address the negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity on the Union steel market.

The Committee on Budgetary Control will hold hearings on Tuesday in relation to Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU Commission.  

On Thursday, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy will vote on addressing the negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity on the Union steel market. 

 In case you missed it…