Dear subscriber,

Welcome to our latest FSAI Brexit Ezine.

With just over a month to go until the end of the transition period, food businesses need to make sure they are ready for the changes Brexit will bring from 1 January 2021.

The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland will apply from 1 January 2021, ensuring that many of the changes arising in our trade with Great Britain will not apply to trade with Northern Ireland.

The FSAI is here to help you get ready with a number of Brexit resources.

Brexit Bites - webinar recordings available

The FSAI held three Brexit Bite webinars recently to help food businesses prepare for the changes Brexit will bring from 1 January 2021.

Recordings of all our Brexit Bite webinars are now available. Here is what we covered in each one.

Brexit Bite - What Food Businesses Need to Know

The Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive provide an overview of the requirements for importing foods of non-animal origin and food contact materials e.g. food packaging, into Ireland from Great Britain from 1 January 2021.

Also clarification is given by the FSAI on Brexit food labelling changes, 'placing on the market', and food supplement requirements.

Brexit Bite - Importing Food of Animal Origin

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provide a summary of the import controls on foods of animal origin including:

What needs to be done to import food
What documents are needed

Guidance and advice is provided on how imports can have a more efficient transfer through the Border Control Post.

Brexit Bite: Be Ready for 1 January 2021

Brexit means change. Irish food businesses that currently buy food from Great Britain and place it on the Irish market will become importers. You need to know what this means and make sure you are ready.

The FSAI provide practical advice on what to do now to prepare for 1 January 2021.

The FSAI is holding another Brexit Bite on 15 December. Subscribe to the FSAI event alerts if you would like to be notified when the registration opens.

Does your food require import checks at a Border Control Post?

The FSAI's 'Brexit- Food Import Requirements' eLearning module outlines the import requirements for importing all types of foods and food contact materials from Great Britain, including:

registration requirements
notification requirements
documentary requirements
types of import checks involved
outcome of import checks

Steps to take to import food from Great Britain

1. Register for an EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number. You cannot trade with Great Britain without this number.

2. Know the classification code (CN) of your product. You will need this code when completing import documentation for your product.

3. Identify the type of product you will be importing because each food type has different requirements.

4. Register with TRACES NT (EU online system) if you are importing the following:

Food of animal origin
Composite products that require veterinary checks
Certain foods of non-animal origin
Fruit and vegetables
Organic food

5. Be familiar with the documentation and notification periods for food imports, and identify the operator responsible for the consignment.

6. Consider how to simplify consignments so that products needing identity/physical checks are easily accessible to inspectors.

Upcoming Brexit events

Check out the ongoing calendar of Brexit events on dfa.ie/brexit/events. The FSAI will have a further Brexit Bite on 15 December 2021. Subscribe to FSAI event alerts if you would like to be notified when the registration opens.

There is now an extensive range of training material and information available online on the Government’s new Brexit Information Hub to help businesses prepare for Brexit and the lasting change that it will bring, and it’s all free of charge. Go to gov.ie/getbrexitready for resources, practical information and webinars for businesses to prepare across all key areas of change.

Brexit Readiness Action Plan

On 9 September, the Government launched its Brexit Readiness Action Plan. The Action Plan supports and promotes the necessary preparations for the substantial and enduring changes that will arise at the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020. Regardless of the outcome of the EU-UK negotiations, a number of outcomes are already clear. The most significant of which is that, in just over one month, the UK will be outside the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. Time is short and action is required now. To read the plan or to get further information, visit www.gov.ie/Brexit.

We will continue to keep you updated and provide information and advice on the steps you need to take to be ready for 1 January 2021. For up-to-date information on Brexit, visit our website at www.fsai.ie/Brexit or email Brexit@fsai.ie if you have any specific questions.

Look out for future FSAI Brexit Ezines.

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