Michael Gove confirms London will implement Irish Sea tariffs and extra agrifood checking under Brexit protocol

Mr. Gove also confirmed physical checks on agri-food products will have to take place at Belfast and Larne in order protect supply chains and disease-free status on the island of Ireland.

In a statement on the British Government's approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol at Westminster on Wednesday he did claim that there would be unfettered access for the north's businesses to the rest of the UK, no tariffs on internal UK trade, and no new customs infrastructure in the north.

He did accept, however, that there would have to be checks and tariffs for goods if they are likely to travel from north to south once they get here.

In a command paper published and presented to the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr. Gove states: "There should be no tariffs on internal UK trade because, as the Protocol acknowledges, the UK is a single customs territory.

"Tariffs should only be charged if goods are destined for Ireland or the EU Single Market more broadly, or if there is a genuine and substantial risk of them ending up there."

The paper further states: "Although there will be some limited additional process on goods arriving in Northern Ireland, this will be conducted taking account of all flexibilities and discretion, and we will make full use of the concept of dedramatisation.

"There will be no new physical customs infrastructure and we see no need to build any. We will however expand some existing entry points for agrifood goods to provide for proportionate additional controls."

Whilst the government has said there will be new customs infrastructure facilities will be expanded to in order to carry out agrifood checks at the Irish Sea.

"The Government is taking this forward with the Northern Ireland Executive. We have accordingly confirmed that we will maintain existing facilities and designations for the purpose of processing arrivals of agri-food goods at Belfast Port, Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport and Warrenpoint Port. Expanded infrastructure will be needed at some of these sites for the purpose of agri-food checks and assurance.

"Working with the Northern Ireland Executive, at a minimum we expect to request additional categories of commodities at Belfast Port, and to designate Larne Port for live animal imports (though checks are already currently carried out anyway at Larne on all livestock entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain).

"Subject to further work with the Northern Ireland Executive and delivery partners, further designations may also be required at other existing sites. There will be no construction at points of entry where no plant or animal health checks are currently carried out."