New regulatory checks will apply to trade with and through the UK from 1 January 2021
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., speaking at Ornua headquarters today, took the opportunity to again call on food and agri-businesses of all sizes to urgently complete their preparations for Brexit to ensure they are ready for the new rules and processes which will apply to trade from 1 January.
The Minister stated, “In less than a month, the UK will be outside the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. This means that, regardless of the outcome of the current EU-UK negotiations, from the first of January, customs and regulatory requirements will apply to businesses that trade with and through Great Britain, resulting in additional time and costs compared with trade today. Businesses need to be ready for this new reality. In particular, agri-food businesses should register with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine if they import goods from the UK, and operators responsible for consignments should register for use of the EU’s TRACES system. Exporters should also register with the Department to access its online export certification system.”
The Minister welcomed increased capacity on direct routes to the continent and encouraged operators to switch now to these routes as it is anticipated that the UK landbridge will be subject to severe delays after the end of the transition period.
The Minister added, “Time is very short and action is required urgently. I am urging food and agri-businesses to engage with my Department through our dedicated help line, 076 106 4443, and to access the resources and supports available on gov.ie/agriculture.”
The Minister also encouraged businesses to take the opportunity to register for the Department’s webinar series, which is a part of a wider programme of trader engagement. This includes a joint webinar being held tomorrow (Thursday 3 December) with officials from the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the movement of animals and agri-food goods, to, from and through Great Britain from the 1st of January, 2021.
Note for Editors:
- Regardless of the outcome of the EU UK negotiations, from 1 January 2021, any business which moves animals, plants, animal products or plant products from, to or through Great Britain will be subject to a range of new customs formalities and other regulatory requirements.
- Businesses should urgently familiarise themselves with the new regulatory and customs procedures, and the certificates and documentation required to continue trading with and through Great Britain.
- Wood packaging material, including pallets, used to move goods will need to meet the ISPM 15 standard, a phytosanitary standard developed by the International Plant Protection Convention. Traders with the UK (importers and exporters) will need to ensure the WPM they use in their supply chain is compliant with ISPM 15 from 1 January 2021.
- As part of the Department’s Brexit series for traders, our next webinar on the ‘Movement of animals and agri-food goods to, from and through GB from the 1st January, 2021– your product’s journey’ will be presented jointly by the Department and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The registration link is available here.
- Businesses should act now to avoid significant delays and minimise disruption to their business – go to gov.ie/agriculture to register, access supports and get all the information they need.
- For assistance in preparing for these changes, businesses should contact the Department through their dedicated call centre, 076 106 4443 or email [email protected]
