Tesco said it was stockpiling food ahead of a potential no-deal Brexit
This will give supermarkets time to adapt their systems to deal with new Brexit checks required by the EU.
It is part of the agreement reached between the UK and EU on how the new Irish Sea border will operate.
The rules will apply regardless of whether the two sides can agree a trade deal.
Later on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will travel to Brussels for talks on a post-Brexit deal with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove outlined further details of the agreement reached with the EU on how the NI part of the original withdrawal deal, known as the Protocol, will work.
He said the government had heard “loud and clear” the concerns of supermarket firms, and that “necessary additional flexibilities” would be made.
From January 1, 2021, the North of Ireland will stay in the EU single market for goods but the rest of the UK will leave.
That means a proportion of food products arriving in the North of Ireland from Great Britain will need to be checked.
The EU has strict rules on products of animal origin: meat, milk, fish and eggs.
These products must enter through a border control post where paperwork is checked and a proportion of goods are physically inspected.
Several supermarket chains had warned the supply of some products from GB to NI could be reduced, due to extra administrative burdens.
On Wednesday, Britain’s biggest supermarket Tesco said it was stockpiling food ahead of a potential no-deal Brexit.
“Our agreement also prevents any disruption at the end of the transition period on the movements of chilled meats,” said Mr Gove.
“British sausages will continue to make their way to Belfast and Ballymena in the new year.”
The supply of medicines from GB to NI will also avoid disruption, with the industry granted a period of 12 months to adapt to the changes under the Protocol.
Mr Gove said the government had delivered on its commitment to ensure unfettered access for NI firms shipping goods to the rest of the UK.
“No additional requirements will be placed on NI businesses for these movements, with the very limited and specific exception of trade in endangered species and conflict diamonds,” he said.
The UK and EU have also agreed a trusted trader scheme, which means most goods going from Britain to the North of Ireland will not face any tariffs.
The NI Protocol created a category of “at risk goods”.
These are goods which the EU fear could travel from GB through NI into the Republic of Ireland and the wider EU, without paying the correct EU tariff.
The protocol makes a provision for tariffs to be charged on these goods.
It was feared that a large proportion of goods going from GB-NI could have attracted tariffs in this way.
But a UK official has told reporters a new trusted trader scheme, agreed with the EU, would exempt up to 98 per cent of goods.
The other 2 per cent of goods would potentially avail of rebates from any tariffs.
The “at risk” goods problem would be almost entirely solved if there was a trade deal between the EU and UK, eliminating tariffs on all goods.
But in the absence of a trade deal the trusted trader scheme would minimise the issue.
The government also confirmed there will be an EU presence in NI after 1 January, but Mr Gove said it would not amount to a “Belfast mini-embassy”.
“The EU officials will not have any powers to carry out checks themselves,” he said, adding there would be “sensible and practical” cooperation and data sharing on both sides.
Downing Street said it remained committed to peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland, and that NI Secretary Brandon Lewis would shortly set out further measures of financial support to help businesses and communities in NI.
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