5 days ago
Custard seized from shop's lorries in raids thanks to ‘bonkers EU red tape rules'
SUPERMARKET lorries were raided and any custard on board seized because of bonkers EU red tape rules, an MP has revealed.
Critics blasted the heavy-handed tactics - which they said left some shops in Northern Ireland suffering food shortages.
DUP MP Sammy Wilson revealed that trade chiefs in Brussels ordered the shock raids earlier this month.
He told a debate in Parliament: 'One of the big supermarkets had custard in its supply chain, and the EU bureaucrats decided that this custard must be hunted down.
'Lorries with mixed loads were stopped and searched.
'The offending custard was hunted down, discovered and exposed.
'That delayed the lorries, which did not reach the depot in time, so their goods could not be broken down and distributed to the various shops.'
Lorries carrying food to supermarkets were delayed because of the raids - leading to a shortage in some shops, he said.
The EU ordered the lorry raids after deciding at the last minute that they wanted all custard in NI to be labelled with stickers saying 'not for sale in the EU' to prevent it getting into the Republic of Ireland.
The labels were not expected to be introduced until a later date.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Mr Wilson said the raids show just how barmy the post Brexit trade arrangements with the EU are.
He fumed: 'It is ludicrous.'
The European Commission pointed the finger of blame at the UK, saying: 'The authorities of the United Kingdom are responsible for implementing and applying the Windsor Framework provisions in Northern Ireland.
I'm an M&S fanatic and the custard creams are 15 out of 10 and it's cheaper to shop there than Aldi
"This includes the implementation of the agri-food arrangements.'
A Government spokesman said: 'It is untrue to claim that EU officials conduct 'raids' in the UK. All checks in the UK are conducted by UK officials.
'There is no custard ban in Northern Ireland, as you can see from the custard on shelves across the country.'
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