Irish Sea border hitting baby formula supplies says MP

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has claimed parents of babies that need special formula milk are struggling to find supplies due to Irish Sea border issues.
Carla LockhartCarla Lockhart
Carla Lockhart

And she has challenged Michael Gove to act with urgency to allow the specialist baby formula to enter Northern Ireland.

Mrs Lockhart made the call in the House of Commons during an Urgent Question tabled by DUP Westminster Leader Jeffrey Donaldson on the movement of goods between GB and Northern Ireland and the impact of the Protocol.

Mrs Lockhart said: “I have been contacted in recent days by the mother of an 11-week-old baby.

“The little one has some health issues that requires him to be given special baby formula that is produced in the Netherlands.

“Many other babies across Northern Ireland will have similar conditions, also requiring this formula for feeding.

“Due to the impact of the Protocol, the formula cannot be sourced in Northern Ireland and this mother is left in distress with her child facing hunger or health consequences.

“Her pharmacist sells around 50 packs of this product a month, as do many others across Northern Ireland.

“Wholesalers cannot secure deliveries. The product is caught somewhere in the supply chain as a direct consequence of the Protocol.

“This mother is hugely distressed and anxious for the health and wellbeing of her little baby.

“She is fearful that without this formula, her child will go hungry or become ill.

“So, it begs the question, if the protocol is denying a baby its milk, is it fit for purpose?

“The answer is clear. It is not fit for purpose. Those calling for the ‘rigorous implementation’ of the Protocol need to catch themselves on and realise the impact it is having on even the youngest in our society.

“The Government, and those local parties who continue to be cheerleaders for this Protocol, need to get real and rather than stand up for EU interests, stand up for the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.

“The Government must act today to address this issue for my constituent and her baby boy. Lift the barriers to trade now and work to find a long term solution that removes these problems once and for all.”