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New agri-import controls commence today 

New UK sanitary and phytosanitary import controls are in place from today, January 31, bringing significant change in Ireland and the EU’s post-Brexit trading environment with Great Britain (GB).

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said it is important that all Irish agri-food exporters recognise that these new UK import requirements represent such a significant change. “Irish agri-food exporters, their UK customers, and their logistics partners must ensure everyone in the supply chain to GB are aware of who is responsible for meeting each of the new UK requirements.” There are three important changes:

  • Re-notification requirements for live animals, animal products, and high- and medium-risk-category plant products;
  • Full customs controls; and
  • Health certification on medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been working with all stakeholders in agri-food sector to support them in preparing these UK changes. Minister McConologue said: “This has included a wide range of awareness-raising activities, detailed training programmes for businesses on export health certification processes across a range of product groups, investment in additional resources to support certification and direct local engagement with individual food businesses by the Department teams responsible for supervising them.
“This a big change for agri-food businesses trading with GB and I can assure the sector that my Department and I, will continue to work with them to address any issues which may arise over the coming period once these changes are applied.”
There is a range of advice for businesses on these new UK requirements available at gov.ie/brexit.