This is how a Sovereign Nation dies – Not with a bang, but with an EU label

On lasagne… On trifle... On tins of tuna... And most of all… On sovereignty

Not for EU labelling

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025

The illusion of sovereignty, the reality of colonial rule, revealed by a microwave meal

"On the 9th anniversary of the EU Referendum, the EU just cannot stop interfering in the lives of our supposedly sovereign country."

- The Stand for Our Sovereignty campaign, 23 June 2025

From next week, and thanks to an EU Regulation issued after Brexit, a British minister will be forced to order food manufacturers anywhere in Great Britain to package their products as “Not for EU” under certain sets of circumstances. This does not only apply to companies selling to Northern Ireland, but to companies selling within mainland Great Britain too.

This means that a food manufacturer in Birmingham supplying customers anywhere in England, Scotland, and Wales must have new packaging saying “Not for EU” on their products, if the government minister decides, even if they never sell to Northern Ireland.

The countdown to another loss of UK sovereignty starts at 6pm tonight, 23 June 2025

At 6pm tonight, MPs in House of Commons Committee Room 9 will ‘debate’ the “Marking of Retail Goods Regulations” and this will then go to the Lords where it will be debated next Monday. It will pass.

The reason? An EU Regulation, issued two-and-a-half years after Brexit, comes into full and extended force on 01 July – the day after the Lords’ debate. It will dramatically affect not only Northern Ireland, but England, Scotland and Wales too.

A Statutory Instrument will give ministers the power to enforce it across the whole of the UK

In Northern Ireland, a more limited form of this EU Regulation has been in place since 2023. From 01 July, it expands in scope significantly, to include far more products. In Great Britain – England, Scotland, and Wales – it will take one flick of a minister’s pen and suddenly every pork pie, prawn ring or pepperoni pizza in the entire UK is covered too.

"This is the UK Government embedding a foreign legal regime inside our own, and enforcing it on behalf of the EU. It’s not an anomaly — it’s a policy. GB businesses will have to play by EU rules to trade within their own country. That’s a fundamental breach of sovereignty."
— Jim Allister KC MP

This is why the 'Stand for Our Sovereignty' campaign exists

At Facts4EU.Org we are exposing how the UK is being drawn back under EU legal jurisdiction, not by treaty, but by technocratic stealth. If you care about the integrity of the United Kingdom as a sovereign, independent country, please support our work today.

As a lead player in the Stand for Our Sovereignty campaign, Facts4EU.Org has prepared this report to show clearly why this campaign is essential – and why we urge every reader who cares about the sovereignty of the United Kingdom to join us.

We are particularly grateful to Mr Jim Allister KC MP, Leader of the TUV party in Northern Ireland, for his invaluable insights and contributions – insights which affect consumers and businesses across all four nations of the United Kingdom.

Join us here

£12 Sovereign Member (newsletters)

£50 Silver Sovereign Member ( + pin or brooch)

£100 Gold Sovereign Member ( + Zoom/YouTube meetings with politicians, other ‘specials’)

One-off donations very much welcomed - in addition to or instead of the above

Your weekly shop, the sovereignty of your country, and the EU

It may seem strange to link your shopping basket with national sovereignty – but that’s precisely what’s at stake.

Summary

UK Government likely to enforce post-Brexit EU-derived rules on trade within GB as well as from GB-NI
These EU rules do not apply to EU member states themselves – this is a ‘UK Only’ EU Regulation
GB producers will be forced to label their goods “Not for EU” if they go on the list, even when selling only within GB
British officials will enforce EU rules in GB on behalf of a foreign power, as they already do in N.I.
Creates a constitutional breach of sovereignty
Jim Allister: “This is the UK surrendering control, plain and simple”

This regulation applies only to the UK

Two years ago an EU Regulation 2023/1231 was created, which has no force inside the EU itself. It is a post-Brexit instrument, written by Brussels, imposed solely on the UK as part of the Windsor Framework. It does not apply to Paris, Prague or Palermo, but from July onwards it will apply in Preston, Porthcawl, and Prestwick.

What is more, the power to activate it in Great Britain is about to be handed to UK ministers, via a Statutory Instrument – a legal mechanism which, once passed, is subject to no debate, no vote, and no recourse each time it is used. Once issued, it’s law and you cannot appeal it.

Richard Tice MP, Deputy Leader, Reform UK, commented on our report

“This is a bad faith move from the European Union. UK-made goods are of the highest quality and remain in strong demand across Europe.
“We left the EU to restore our sovereignty and forge competitive trade deals on our own terms. Unfortunately, the EU deal showed that this Government is too often willing to compromise British sovereignty to appease foreign interests.
“Reform UK will always prioritise British industry and the national interest above all else.”
- Richard Tice MP, 23 Jun 2025

The reason the Government deems this necessary

According to the official explanatory memorandum, the Government believes this power is needed to deter GB businesses from withdrawing products from the Northern Ireland market in response to expanded EU labelling requirements from 01 July 2025.

By enabling a swift, GB-wide enforcement mechanism via ministerial decree, ministers aim to ensure continued product availability in NI and to uphold the UK’s commitments under the Windsor Framework. The Government argues this power provides a "credible threat of enforcement" to prevent disruption to NI supply chains.

The problem is that if they decide that a GB supplier may be going to cease supplying the NI market, they can add the product codes involved to a list and then all GB firms making those products are affected.

Business won’t wait – They will pre-empt

What responsible manufacturer will wait until the day they’re suddenly told to re-label every ready-meal they manufacture? Many will switch their whole production packaging to “Not for EU” just to be safe.

This is legislative coercion, dressed as “market stability.”

“If enforcing foreign laws inside Britain, by British hands, isn’t a constitutional outrage, then what on Earth was Brexit for?”
— Jim Allister KC MP, Leader of the TUV Party

The Rt Hon Sir John Redwood, former Secretary of State, commented on our report

"“Save our sovereignty. Today the government wants to put GB under EU food laws. MPs should oppose this new regulation which the government does not want to highlight.
"The Marking of Retail Goods Regulations being smuggled through Parliament today is another way to bind us to EU laws and prevent Brexit wins.”
- The Rt Hon Sir John Redwood, 23 June 2025

The UK is not just allowing this. It is enabling it, facilitating it, and policing it, with no fight and no fuss - and, tragically, no real parliamentary say.

Your Weekly Shop – Repackaged by EU Decree

If you think this only affects obscure niche goods, think again. From 01 July, the following everyday food items can be legally required to carry a 'Not for EU' label – and not just in Northern Ireland, but across the whole of Great Britain - if a single UK minister says so. This affects everyone making these products, even if they never sell beyond Bradford.

Not for EU labelling

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025

Here’s what could be hit:

Pre-packed fruit & veg – apples, beans, bagged herbs
Fish & seafood – cod, salmon, scampi, tuna, crab sticks
Dairy-based desserts – trifles, sundaes, ice cream
Meaty meals – lasagne, pork pies, scotch eggs, pizzas
Everyday sauces – pasta sauces, guacamole, gravy
Chilled drinks – iced lattes, milkshakes
Meal kits & baby food – anything containing cheese or dairy
‘High-risk’ foods – rice (India), peanuts (USA), tea (China)

"It’s not about where you sell. It’s about what you sell. If it’s on the list, you’re in the EU’s net."
— Facts4EU.Org Analysis

Small Business Exemption – But Most GB Producers Will Still Be Caught

In Great Britain, there is a legal exemption for small businesses — defined under UK company law as firms with fewer than 50 employees and turnover under £10.2 million. These businesses are not required to apply 'Not for EU' labels, even if a ministerial order covers their product category. However, most food manufacturers, where packaging and labelling take place, are larger operations and fall outside this exemption. As such, the majority of GB producers will still be caught in the regulatory net.

No Exemptions in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, there is no exemption. From 01 July 2025, all products listed in the expanded EU regulation must carry the 'Not for EU' label — regardless of the company’s size. This applies automatically and universally, with no need for ministerial action.

In contrast, GB producers are only affected if a ministerial notice is issued covering the product in question — but once issued, all non-exempt GB manufacturers must comply, even if they’ve never traded with Northern Ireland. Retailers are not affected — the obligation rests with producers and packagers.

The Chairman of the sovereignty campaign

“For some time it’s been clear to us all at the Stand for Our Sovereignty campaign that the sovereignty of the United Kingdom – hard won and deeply cherished – is under threat as never before. We’ve got news for you if you feel like we do. You’re not alone.
Now we just need millions more of you to join up. Please do it today. Go to our current sign-up page at facts4eu.org/sos. In a couple of days we’ll have a website and there you’ll be amongst friends. If enough people do that, we can fight back and stop the rot. We have the political power, great media contacts, and some battle-hardened troops from Brexit Facts4EU, CIBUK, and other groups. We just need some funding so please join today!”
- Leigh Evans, Chairman, the Stand for Our Sovereignty campaign, 23 June 2025

Exporters caught in the ‘Not for EU’ net

Despite being based in post-Brexit Britain, UK food exporters face a legal trap. Under the new regulation, if a manufacturer places a regulated product on the GB market, they must apply a ‘Not for EU’ label — even if they also export that same product to EU or global markets.

There is no exemption for exporters, no special provision for dual-use packaging, and no flexibility for world trade. This means many firms will be forced to run separate packaging lines:

One with ‘Not for EU’ for UK domestic sales
One without - for EU (ironically) and international markets

For many producers, especially SMEs on the edge of the ‘small company’ exemption, this will be prohibitively expensive. And for exporters to the EU, having ‘Not for EU’ on their packaging could be commercially damaging — potentially resulting in customs confusion, rejected shipments, or even delisting by EU distributors.

"This regulation doesn’t just bind UK firms to EU law — it actively penalises them for trading with the world."
— Facts4EU.Org Analysis

From the Cabinet Office, a Government spokesperson said:

“Not for EU labelling was agreed as part of the Windsor Framework in 2023. Labelling will only be required for certain food and drink products. Many things like cakes, bread, pasta and alcohol will not need to be labelled.
“And when implemented, the agreements we secured at the UK-EU Summit will reduce the need for this labelling and make it easier to move goods between the UK and Europe.”

Technical requirements for the label

Naturally the labelling has rules attached. They can be written, printed, stencilled, marked, embossed, impressed on or attached to the product, box or shelf. The labels can be adhesive labels (stickers) or sticky tape, but they must not be easily removable.

The label must be easy to see, clear to read and unlikely to fall off or be easily removed. It should not be hidden or covered by any other writing or pictures. It can be incorporated into individual packaging as long as it does not cover any other required information. And finally products should be marked in line with existing labelling requirements.

In reality, new labelling is more difficult than it sounds. As any supermarket chain will tell you, how a product is packaged can be key to how popular it is. There is already a lot that must appear by law, so having this new requirement will be a headache for many companies and some will lose sales as a result.

What do we mean by ‘ministerial decree’?

The technical term is a Statutory Instrument (SI). This allows a minister – in this case, likely the DEFRA Secretary – to issue a binding legal instruction requiring compliance with EU labelling standards. Parliament cannot amend or vote on it. Ministers answer only written questions, and the SI remains in force.

Observations

What do you call it when laws passed in Brussels are enforced by British ministers, with no democratic oversight?

This is not sovereignty.
This is colonial administration.
This marks mutualised enforcement of foreign law.
It deepens the regulatory partition of the UK.
It is legislative colonisation by stealth.

And finally, this highlights the disgrace that is the Windsor Protocol

The final and absolutely fundamental point which this report highlights is the continued existence of the abomination that is 'the Windsor Protocol'. This has the effect of the division of the United Kingdom - a deliberate act which shows up the EU for what it is: anti-democratic, domineering, and vindictive. There has never been any need for the absurd demands of the EU to treat Northern Ireland differently after the UK voted to leave the EU nine years ago. Its only justification was their need to punish the British people for having the temerity to reject their entire, sclerotic edifice.

Facts4EU provided countless evidence-based reports proving this, even quoting the head of Irish Customs to this effect. When it came down to it, however, the facts did not matter to the EU. They simply had a deeply-felt need to punish the British for leaving. The proposed system of 'Mutual Enforcement' remains a perfectly rational and workable solution to this day. The Protocol should be repealed and if the EU doesn't like it then perhaps we should all consider buying rather more from our friends around the world and wiping out the EU's outrageous trade surplus with the UK. That might focus a few minds in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels...

Please, please help us to carry on our vital work in defence of independence, sovereignty, democracy and freedom by donating today. Thank you.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Mon 23 / Tues 24 June 2025

Click here to go to our news headlines

Please scroll down to COMMENT on the above article.
And don't forget actually to post your message after you have previewed it!

Something to say about this? Scroll down for reader comments

Since before the EU Referendum, Brexit Facts4EU.Org
has been the most prolific researcher and publisher of Brexit facts in the world.

Supported by MPs, MEPs, & other groups, our work has impact.

We think facts matter. Please donate today, so that we can continue to ensure a clean Brexit is finally delivered.

Any credit card user

Quick One-off

From £5 - £1,000

Monthly

From £3 per month

Paypal Users Only - Choose amount first

Quick One-off

Monthly

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT : You can write your comment under any existing comments below. After you have clicked to preview your comment, you MUST then click on the CAPTCHA system and send you comment, for it to be published. Thank you!

Reader Comments 10

1. Sparky , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 05:37:

Extracted from DEFRA policy paper. "The Secretary of State anticipates exercising these powers only to the extent necessary to ensure the continued supply of goods in scope of the labelling requirement into Northern Ireland".
.
Northern Ireland is rarely discussed in detail, usually only in soundbites such as "the hated Windsor Framework" or "surrender". But what is the solution to Northern Ireland?
.
Over time if the UK diverges significantly from the EU, the differences between the NI and the UK will be increasingly obvious and the people of Northern Ireland will question whether they want a United Ireland. The border has been one of the biggest lies of Brexit. Quotes from Boris Johnson "There will be no border down the Irish Sea… over my dead body" - 13 August 2020, "There will be no checks on goods going from GB to NI, or NI to GB" - 8 December 2019. Nigel Farage stated that "Ireland will leave the EU too" and in 2021 Kate Hoey said "it was the logical thing for Ireland to leave the EU".
.
The full title of the UK is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". What would happen to the acronym of "UK" if Northern Ireland leaves the UK.

2. John Jones , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 06:09:

It will only take 500 or so manufacturers to not comply or go very slowly in say month 1 of this process.
What will the government do.
In month 2 - let's say 1000 manufacturer's take the same stance?. Go slow.....go slower.
In month 3 .... join the dots.
The trick here is to educate people - per this article - about the consequences and costs of this so called labelling - but if people themselves didn't act like lemmings - this bad law would be stopped in its tracks.
Freedom isn't free - it comes at price - it's up to all of US to decide whether we want to pay for it or let the Commissar's including the technocrats of DEFRA dictate to us how we will live.

3. Have You Wondered , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 06:42:

.
Let's have a reciprocal arrangement ? No like for like goods allowed into the UK ? Or would that be too simple ?
.

4. John Jones , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 08:55:

3. Have You Wondered
How would UK enforce such measures - this government is pretty much rejecting the need for Border Inspection Posts/Border Control Posts.
Worse we agreed the Windsor Framework - the EU reserves and has the right to retaliatory action if we discriminate against their foods. Starmer is forcing the UK back into the EU Food/agriculture standards market.

5. Sparky , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 10:22:

The labelling is from the Windsor Framework, an arrangement by Rishi Sunsk which was a modification of Boris Johnson’s agreement.
.
The labelling is a requirement for UK exports to NI because it has an open border with the EU. Exports to NI would not be permitted without the correct labels. This is also pragmatism, a food manufacturer in England is not going to produce separate labels for products staying in England and product for NI as it would increase costs and complicate product management.
.
One of the supposed benefits of Brexit was cutting red tape. The opposite is the case. And why the Food and Drink Federation has revealed that UK food exports to the EU fell by 34.6% compared to pre-Brexit levels.

6. Gazzablack , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 12:31:

A paper written by Phill Radford published in UK trade analysis in "policy exchange" identifies five traits in UK trade that lead to significant misrepresentation of trade data.
.
▪ The rapid gear shift into high value/low volume manufacturing in the UK automotive industry.
▪ The £55 billion impact on the UK of global downturns in our two biggest export industries (aerospace and automotive) from 2020 to 2023
▪ Around £5 billion of pre-Brexit exports of clothing and footwear that turn out to have been re-exports
▪ The chronic slow growth of UK goods exports to the EU before Brexit which skews doppelganger comparisons
▪ The £5 billion of advanced engineering exports now sold as services
.
Incidentally the issue with 're-exports also applies to other sectors - especially good products and agriculture
.
It's also worth remembering that there was pre-Brexit stockpiling.

7. NH , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 17:42:

5. Sp.
You are still repeating the same old misleading information !
.
Food and drinks exports to the EU fell by 34.6% when measured by kilograms not value. As this is for a whole range of different products it does not mean very much, it could equally be due to a change of product mix. The actual revenue increased by 23.8%. At the end of 2021 55.7% of UK food and drink exports went to the EU compared to 57.3% at the end of 2024.
.
As we all know new trade agreements have taken a long time to be implemented but they are starting to have an effect. In Q1 2025 UK Food and Drink exports to the USA were up 23%, India up 20% (before the new reduced tariffs), Malaysia up significantly (Sugar/confectionary +40%, Soft drinks +103%, Chocolate +14%). This is in addition to the effect of food exports being redirected so they no longer show up in UK export figures (6.Gazzablack above).
.
What is very clear is that new trade deals are starting to have a significant effect and the major potential for growth is not the EU !

8. Gazzablack , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 18:28:

The EU has just 14 days in which to successfully negotiate a deal with the USA to avoid being hit with 50% tariffs.
.
The EU of course is weighing up a UK style trade deal with the USA.
.
Where the UK leads, the EU follows

9. George , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 20:18:

Perhaps the required sentence should read " This is prime food, therefore, not for the EU".

10. Gazzablack , Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 21:07:

Off topic (sorry facts) but Defencejournal reports….....
.
Dozens of pro-Indy accounts go dark after Israeli strikes
.
On 12 June dozens of anonymous X accounts advocating Scottish independence abruptly went silent.Many had posted hundreds of times a week, often using pro independence slogans, anti UK messaging, and identity cues like "NHS nurse" or "Glaswegian Socialist"
.
Their sudden disappearance coincided with a major Israeli air strike against Iranian military and Cyber infrastrjcture.
Within days, Iran had suffered severe power outages, fuel shortages and an internet blackout affecting 95% of national connectivity.
.
What appeared at first glance to be a curious coincidence has since emerged as the most visible rupture to date in a long running foreign influence operation.
.
What emerges is a picture of a state actor, Tehran, deliberately using the Scottish independence issue to amplify internal division in the UK.
.
In the lead up to the 2014 referendum IRIB created Facebook pages like "The Scotsman cartoon" to stir up division within he UK.

Add comment:

Please note: Your email address is never published unless you choose to enter it.