Dear subscriber,

Welcome to our Brexit Ezine.

Since 01 January 2021, there have been import controls on foods from the UK (excluding NI) imported into Ireland.

As we approach the end of 2021, preparations continue for further Brexit-related changes to UK SPS Import and Customs Controls which will apply in 2022. The new UK import controls will apply to exporters of products of animal origin, certain animal by-products, high-risk food not of animal origin, and regulated plant and plant products. These new import controls will be introduced on a phased basis.

On 15 December 2021, the UK Government announced that the new UK customs and SPS import requirements which were due to apply to imports to Great Britain from 1 January 2022 have been postponed in respect of imports of goods from Ireland. However, new requirements will apply for goods moving from other EU countries to Ireland via the UK Landbridge and for goods moving from the UK (excluding NI) to Ireland. Further information on how these changes may impact Irish businesses is available on www.gov.ie/Brexit

The current arrangements for importing goods to Britain from Ireland will now continue to apply after 1 January 2022 and until the UK Government provides further information.

Please note that the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland means that no new procedures apply to goods moving between Northern Ireland and Ireland (and other EU Member States) in either direction.

What does the 15 December UK announcement mean?

The UK Government announcement that the new UK customs and SPS import requirements which were due to apply to imports to Britain from 1 January 2022 have been postponed in respect of imports of goods from Ireland.

This announcement means that the current arrangements for importing goods to Great Britain from Ireland will now continue to apply after 1 January 2022 and until the UK Government provides further information.

This means that the new pre-notification requirements for exporters of products of animal origin, certain animal by-products, high-risk food not of animal origin, and regulated plant and plant products being introduced on EU imports from 1 January 2022, will not apply to goods imported from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain.

However, these new requirements will apply for UK imports from other EU Member States. It is particularly important to note that both new customs and SPS import requirements will apply to goods moving to Ireland from other EU countries via the Landbridge. In addition, all trucks leaving Great Britain by ferry, including to Ireland, will be required to use the UK’s Goods Vehicle Management System (GVMS).

Further detail on this announcement in respect of agri-food goods, are available here

It should be noted that these UK changes have been postponed and not cancelled for UK imports from Ireland. The current arrangements are temporary, and Irish businesses exporting to the UK should continue to prepare for the full introduction of UK import and custom controls in 2022.

Hauliers who have not yet registered for the Goods Vehicle Movement System (GVMS) or applied for a GB Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number should do so immediately. Information on how to obtain an EORI number is available here. Information on how to register for GVMS is available here.

It is therefore important that Irish businesses exporting food to the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) maximise the use of the additional time provided by this recent announcement to further prepare their supply chains for Brexit-related changes. Irish exporters must ensure that they and everyone in their supply chain, including the UK importer, is clear on their roles and responsibilities and can meet them.

What about export certificate requirements?

From 1 July 2022, Irish exporters will need to apply for and be issued with the appropriate Export Health Certificate(s) for their agri-food products, issued by the relevant Irish competent authorities. These new import controls are being introduced in three phases between 1 July and 1 November 2022 as follows:

From 1 July, certification and physical and identity checks will be introduced for:

All remaining regulated animal by-products
All regulated plants and plant products
All meat and meat products
All remaining high-risk food not of animal origin.

From 1 September 2022, certification and physical checks will be introduced for all dairy products.

From 1 November 2022, certification and physical checks will be introduced for all remaining regulated products of animal origin, including composite and fish products.

This phased approach does not replace any existing import controls already in place.

As the type of health certificate required for individual categories of products may differ and consignments with different products may require a number of health certificates, Irish exporters should maximise the use of the time provided by the phased approach for the introduction of UK import controls, to further prepare for these significant Brexit-related changes. Exporters must ensure that everyone in the supply chain, including the UK importer, is clear on their roles and responsibilities and can meet them.

Maximise this additional time to prepare

Irish exporters are encouraged to continue working on the preparations for export health certificates that have been undertaken since earlier this year.

The Irish Competent Authorities have been engaging with food businesses exporting to the UK, provided webinars to inform businesses on how to apply for their export certificates on TRACES and have conducted product trials to test the certification systems developed.

Information on TRACES and recordings of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) hosted webinars on generating export health certificates are available here

If you have questions in relation to what you need to do for export health certification and have not yet discussed this with your competent authority, please use this additional time to contact your inspecting officer to discuss the export requirements for your business.

If you export to the UK and are unsure if your food business needs an export health certificate please contact your inspecting officer to discuss the export requirements for your business.

Government supports and training

A range of Government supports including training are available. Further information on the these supports can be accessed here

FSAI Brexit Resources

Visit the FSAI's Brexit Resources page to find all our food business resources in one place.

In 2022, the FSAI will continue to keep you updated on any Brexit changes that will affect your food business. Visit www.fsai.ie/Brexit or email brexit@fsai.ie if you have any specific questions.

Also look out for our FSAI Brexit Ezines.

We wish you a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

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