M&S boss Stuart Machin says the labels, designed stop British goods leaking into bloc, add “another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape”.M&S boss Stuart Machin says the labels, designed stop British goods leaking into bloc, add "another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape". M&S boss Stuart Machin says the labels, designed stop British goods leaking into bloc, add “another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape”.

The boss of Marks & Spencer has blasted the “bureaucratic madness” of products requiring “not for EU” labels. M&S boss Stuart Machin says the labels, designed stop British goods leaking into bloc, add “another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape”.

Machin, who runs M&S which has stores in Birmingham, says the retailer would have to label 1,000 more products destined for the UK country with “not for EU” while another 400 items would require “additional checks”.

The “not for EU” labelling is designed to prevent products intended for sale in Northern Ireland being moved to the Republic of Ireland, which is an EU member.

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In a post on X, he said the change in rules added “yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape for food retailers like M&S”. He said: “Quite frankly it’s bureaucratic madness, confusing for customers, and completely unnecessary given the UK has some of the highest food standards in the world.”

Mr Machin said “The government’s SPS deal with the EU will be gamechanging, and it can’t come soon enough!”

A letter this month from the Provision Trade Federation, which represents food producers, to the environment secretary, Steve Reed, said the lack of clarity was “extremely unsatisfactory” and had left the industry in “complete limbo”.

The letter, which was signed by several other bodies including the National Farmers’ Union, Dairy UK and the Food and Drink Exporters Association, urged the government to abandon the plan, or at least put in place a six-month delay to help businesses to prepare.

The letter said: “We would strongly urge you to draw a line under this poorly handled chapter and make the earliest possible announcement to that effect.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “Ministers are carefully considering the evidence provided in the recent ‘not for EU’ labelling consultation.

“We are committed to taking all necessary steps to protect the UK internal market and are continuing to engage with businesses to ensure the smooth flow of goods to Northern Ireland.”