The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) largely welcomes the announcement today by the UK Government to delay the post-Brexit checks on EU goods coming into Great Britain by six months. The delay, which was announced by Michael Gove MP, gives Irish and UK businesses more time to prepare. The CEO of the Irish Exporters Association Simon McKeever believes that while Irish exporters have more time to prepare, we have concerns about the impact that the delaying of deadlines is having to Irish businesses’ preparations and in a wider context, the overall impact to EU – UK relations.
Chief Executive of the IEA Simon McKeever commented: “We have been working with our members to prepare them for the phasing in of UK import controls on 1 April and 1 July, and whilst having more time to prepare will be a relief to many Irish businesses, we have concerns about the wider issue of postponing deadlines and the uncertainty that creates in the long-run. Nevertheless, the delay of imposing further controls on EU goods entering Britain is welcomed and should mean that further disruption to trade is minimised for the next 6 months. This decision of course just highlights the total lack of preparation for Brexit by the UK, and I question whether they will, in fact, be ready by the end of this year.
The revised timetable for the introduction of controls essentially gives business in the EU and the UK a further six months to prepare. Irish food and drink businesses will have to ensure that Export Health Certificates accompany goods of animal origin, certain animal by-products and high- risk food not of animal origin entering Britain from 1 October 2021, as opposed to 1 April.
We will continue to work with our members to prepare them for the new deadlines and we would encourage UK companies to do the same.”
UK Update:
UK Government announce revised timetable for the introduction of controls
Today the UK Government announced a revised timetable for the introduction of controls. The revised timetable delays the post-Brexit checks on EU goods coming into Great Britain by six months.
Michael Gove MP made the announcement earlier today in a statement, which is available here
The statement includes the following information:
- Pre-notification requirements for Products of Animal Origin (POAO), certain animal by-products (ABP), and High Risk Food Not Of Animal Origin (HRFNAO) will not be required until 1 October 2021. Export Health Certificate requirements for POAO and certain ABP will come into force on the same date.
- Customs import declarations will still be required, but the option to use the deferred declaration scheme, including submitting supplementary declarations up to six months after the goods have been imported, has been extended to 1 January 2022.
- Safety and Security Declarations for imports will not be required until 1 January 2022.
- Physical SPS checks for POAO, certain ABP, and HRFNAO will not be required until 1 January 2022. At that point they will take place at Border Control Posts.
- Physical SPS checks on high risk plants will take place at Border Control Posts, rather than at the place of destination as now, from 1 January 2022.
- Pre-notification requirements and documentary checks, including phytosanitary certificates will be required for low risk plants and plant products, and will be introduced from 1 January 2022.
- From March 2022, checks at Border Control Posts will take place on live animals and low risk plants and plant products.
For full details, refer to the statement made by Michael Gove MP here