News / Post-Brexit shipping routes mean spoiled Irish food

John Paxton Sheriff |

Irish food faces spoilage if proposed new shipping routes between the republic and Belgium go ahead in the wake of Brexit. The Irish Times reports that transit times would more than treble, leaving food spoiled before even reaching the continent. At present, these goods travel to Europe via the Channel Tunnel and with the expected new transit times, concerns are beginning to mount. And additional customs checks that will accompany the UK’s departure from the European Union are only adding to this. Interestingly, new shipping routes proposed by the European Commission suggest transits from Cork and Dublin into Antwerp, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge, seemingly ignoring the French ports of Cherbourg and Roscoff – both of which are geographically closer to Ireland.