The posters advise that from April 1 2022 carrier bags will cost 25p.  They can be downloaded from the Fed’s website at www.thefedonline.com.

The increase to the carrier bag levy was announced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in November.  It said that doing so would further protect the environment and encourage consumers to reuse their carrier bags.

The Fed challenged the drastic increase when advised by environment minister Edwin Poots MLA in November 2021. DAERA was warned that while the increase was beneficial from an environmental standpoint, it would impact on independent retailers at a time of great financial uncertainty.carrier bag levy

25p

Commenting on the increase, former Fed Northern Ireland president Judith Mercer said: “From an environmental standpoint, it makes sense.  We want there to be less plastic, but this price increase is a big jump.”

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This year £300,000 is available from the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme (NIRFP) for the promotion of our local food and drink products at regional fairs and exhibitions, seminars/workshops and information programmes.

The Minister said: “This is an important funding programme for our food and drink sector as it continues on the path to recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme encourages collaboration between all sectors and representative bodies within the local food industry through financial support to help showcase quality regional food.

“I am delighted that this year we are again able to offer funding for activities that would support a generic agri-food promotion campaign, building on the successes achieved in 2021. Promotional activities will cover all sectors of the NI food industry highlighting the quality, sustainability and reputation of the food that is produced on local farms.”

The programme opens on 1 February 2022 and closes at noon on 22 February. Applications are invited from not-for-profit groups and regional development agencies as well as registered charities.

The aim of the scheme is to raise the profile of quality regional food and increase its consumption within Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

The funding is for projects taking place from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. Awards will be subject to budget availability.

Successful applications to the Programme can obtain up to 40% financial contributions on eligible project expenditure for regional fairs/exhibitions, seminars/workshops, information programmes; and 80% for the generic agri-food sector promotional campaign.

Scheme rules mean that only not-for-profit groups with a Northern Ireland membership, registered charities or not-for-profit regional development agencies that plan to deliver projects that raise the profile of NI regional food can apply. Applications for collaborative ventures involving two or more eligible organisations working together to deliver the objectives of the Programme are encouraged.

The application form can be downloaded from: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/northern-ireland-regional-food-programme .

Caption: DAERA Minister Edwin Poots is pictured with Eileen Hall,  Cavanagh Free Range Eggs (left) and Jackie Tumelty,  Castlescreen Farm as he announces that the £300k Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme is open from 1 February 2022.

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The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots said: “As I have previously said, Northern Ireland is already renowned for its high-quality, tasty, welfare-focussed, award-winning and environmentally sustainable food. We punch well above our weight on the world stage and our food ends up on plates all across the globe.

“It’s now time to focus our efforts on taking such a fantastic product and ensuring we maximise its benefits for our local health, economy, environment and for the generations to come.

“So by working together, we can transform our food system into one that protects natural resources for future generations, is economically and environmentally sustainable and provides safe, nourishing, accessible food to people, who make informed healthy choices.”

The consultation can be found on the DAERA website at: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations/northern-ireland-food-strategy-framework.

The Framework focuses on six strategic priorities and will be a living document that is dynamic and responsive to changing circumstances. The six strategic priorities include:

• • Building connections between health /wellbeing and food;
  • Building Sustainable Economic Prosperity;
  • Building a Food Culture and Food Conscious Society; Protecting and Enhancing our Natural Resources; Building Healthy Lives through Food Education; and
  • Building and maintaining appropriate Emergency Contingency plans across the supply chain.

“There are only two weeks to the closing date of the consultation (Friday 19 November). I encourage you to share your views on the proposals for a new strategic food systems approach, and on the proposed vision, principles and goals of the NI Food Strategy Framework,” the minister said.

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During the start of the global campaign Plastic Free July, the Minister said people in Northern Ireland could do their bit by taking part in his latest consultation on carrier bags.

“Plastic Free July encourages people to refuse single-use plastics so we can tackle plastic pollution in our streets, seas and countryside. I would urge everyone in Northern Ireland to join me in the fight against plastic pollution by responding to our consultation on the carrier bag levy,” explained Minister Poots.

“We are now half way into the consultation period with some 400 responses already showing just how important the environment and this issue is to people. Working together we can help meet the New Decade, New Approach commitment on eliminating plastic pollution. It also underpins the Green Growth framework which I am currently developing.

“My Department continues to work hard on the issue of the circular economy and to tackle the throwaway culture. With over five trillion single use plastic bags used worldwide every year and plastic waste set to quadruple by 2050 we are encouraging everyone in Northern Ireland to act locally but think globally,” he added.

Minister Poots said: “Whilst the existing Carrier Bag Levy has been successful in already removing in excess of 1.5 billion bags from circulation here, I am aware heavy duty bags are now flooding the market and are not being reused with harmful environmental consequences.

“We can and must do more. So I would encourage stakeholders, industry and the general public who have not already participated to take part and have their say on our consultation which will run until 27 July 2021,” he concluded.

Ian Humphreys Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said: “Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful welcomes this consultation to future proof existing carrier bag legislation. We would encourage people to respond to the consultation to ensure their views are heard.

“As an environmental charity funded by the Department, the existing carrier bag levy has supported the vital work we carry out in order to make Northern Ireland a cleaner and more pleasant place in which to live, including efforts to reduce the production and littering of single-use plastics,” he added.

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The Minister said: “Whilst the existing Carrier Bag Levy has been successful in already removing in excess of 1.5 billion bags from circulation I am aware heavy duty bags are now flooding the market, and are not being reused with harmful environmental consequences. We can and must do more. To tackle as such we are intending to review, simplify and future proof our existing carrier bag legislation.”

Minister Poots added: “My Department continues to work hard on the issue of the circular economy and has shown resolve seeking to eliminate plastic pollution and tackle the throwaway culture. With over five trillion single use plastic bags used worldwide every year and plastic waste set to quadruple by 2050 we are encouraging our citizens to act locally but think globally.”

Plastic pollution

“This new consultation will help meet the New Decade, New Approach commitment on eliminating plastic pollution and also underpins the Green Growth framework which I am currently developing. It is also an integral  part of the range of other plastic reduction measures my Department has initiated through participation in the UK Plastics Pact, support for consultations on both a bottle deposit return scheme and the extended producer responsibility on packaging and also the roll out of policy to help reduce plastic used in our NI government estate.”

He concluded: “We have the most comprehensive Carrier Bag Levy in the UK which applies to not only plastic bags but all bags, which has already ensured that millions of pounds worth of proceeds have been reinvested in supporting the wider NI environmental sector. I would encourage stakeholders, industry and the general public to actively participate in this consultation which will run until 27 July 2021.

The Carrier Bag Levy in Northern Ireland applies to ALL bags and not just plastic bags.

The consultation can be accessed at: consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/daera/carrier-bag-levy-ni-consultation

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