Brexit
2 mins | March 14, 2021

New EU food import rules add to Brexit worries

From 21 April 2021, many composite food products will require a health certificate to pass EU import controls.

New EU food import rules add to Brexit worries

From 21 April 2021, many composite food products will require a health certificate to pass EU import controls.

The requirement applies to composite products containing processed meat. In many cases, composite products containing dairy, fishery or eggs products will also be affected.

 

What do the regulations have to do with Brexit?

The new EU import regulations on composite food products apply to all ‘third countries’ (i.e. non-EU states) importing goods into the EU. 

Following Brexit, the UK bears the status of a third country in relation to the EU. That means exports from the UK are subject to the same ordinary customs and border inspection protocols as exports from other non-EU countries.

 

What are the implications for UK exporters?

Food industry representatives have expressed concern about the additional costs and red tape. 

“The question is whether all this new administrative cost can be borne, given existing profit margins,” Karin Goodburn of the Chilled Food Association told the FT

 

Which food items are affected?

If the composite product contains any processed meat then it will require a health certificate. In addition, composite products containing products containing 50% or more dairy, fishery or egg products will also require certification. 

On the other hand, if a composite product contains less than 50% dairy, is shelf-stable and the dairy has been suitably treated (e.g. by UHT heat treatment) then the product likely won’t be subject to border inspection control. However, traders are advised to get expert advice to get full clarity on the status of their products.

 

Veterinary certification

According to Defra, health certificates issued in Great Britain need to be signed by an appropriately authorised veterinarian, namely “a Government Veterinary Officer or by an Official Veterinarian (OV) appointed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency on behalf of Ministers in Defra, the Scottish Government or the Welsh Government and who hold the appropriate Official Controls Qualification (Veterinary) (OCQ (V)) authorisation.”

 

New sanitary control on imports to the UK

UK businesses that import from the EU that will also be affected by new border controls on agricultural products in April 2021.

From 1 April 2021, the UK will impose additional measures on EU goods subject to Sanitary and Phytosanitary controls. The additional controls will apply to animal products, plant products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin.

 

A tailored Brexit supply chain solution

Brexit makes trade between the UK and the EU more complex at the best of times. Consignments are now subject to import VAT and customs controls. Those controls become more complex and potentially expensive in the case of agricultural and high-risk products.

Companies that trade between the UK and EU need to stay on top of changing VAT and import control regulations, and devise effective strategies to adapt.

re:TRADE, powered by VAT IT, is a holistic service that manages all the border compliance, customs, VAT and logistics for you. We can customise an effective solution for your business that minimises costs, maximises VAT reclaim opportunities and prevents border delays. 

 

 

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