Press release
McConalogue urges agri-food exporters to sharpen their focus on preparations for UK import controls
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has again urged food business operators and agri-food exporters to intensify their focus on preparations to meet new UK import control requirements, which will begin to apply from 1 July 2022.
Speaking at the 28th meeting of the Consultative Committee of Stakeholders on Brexit, the Minister said:
“We are now less than 3 months away from another set of significant changes to the post-Brexit trading environment with the UK. Food exporters to Britain must prepare for these changes. There is simply no room for complacency if businesses want to minimise the potential disruption to their supply chains. All food exporters must make sure that their businesses, and in particular the relevant staff, are fully aware of the new UK requirements, and that they have the detailed plans and processes in place all along their supply chains to Britain in order to meet these requirements. This is especially the case in relation to pre-notification and health certification requirements.”
The Minister also highlighted concerns he has in relation to some of the feedback that his department has received from recent training provided to food businesses, which suggests a lack of engagement and lack of preparedness by some of these businesses, despite the short period of time remaining. He said:
“My department has been communicating in a comprehensive manner through a variety of fora, and using a variety of channels, about the upcoming changes. Extensive training opportunities have been made available, learnings from trials have been disseminated, and intensive one-to-one engagement with individual food business operators has taken place. However, recent training provided by my department on the use of the new TRACES NT system has highlighted a lack of the necessary engagement or awareness on the part of many businesses at what is quite a late stage in the preparatory process. I would therefore urge all concerned, in the strongest possible terms, to engage first of all with their local department veterinary supervisory teams on the detailed processes that will be necessary to ensure the most effective operating arrangements, and to maximise every opportunity to participate in the many further training sessions being provided by my department over the coming period.”
The Minister confirmed that his department will be rolling out a further series of information and training events for food businesses and other stakeholders in Ireland-GB supply chains after Easter, which will build on the intensive engagement with the sector over the last twelve months on the new UK Government import control requirements. He urged the Committee members to encourage their members, and all actors in Ireland-UK supply chains, to engage with these activities.
The Committee also received an update from the department on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and on the latest information in relation to the UK’s approach to trade policy post-Brexit.
Businesses can get in touch with the department on any Brexit-related issues including details on upcoming information and events through:
Detailed advice and resources are also available on the Government of Ireland website at: www.gov.ie/agriculture/brexit
Details of upcoming UK Government information events including registration links are set out here:
IPAFFS Pre-Notification, CHED (ABP) and Consignment Inspection webinar
IPAFFS Pre-Notification, CHED (POAO) and Consignment Inspection Alert
Importing meat and meat products from the EU into GB 26 April 2022
Register here: Webinar (microsoft.com)
Importing animal by-products from the EU into GB 28 April 2022
Register here: Webinar (microsoft.com)
The latest version of the UK Border Operating Model is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-border-operating-model