Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The decision taken by the UK in 2016 to leave the European Union has resulted in a long and complex path for the UK, the EU and Ireland in plotting a way to a new post-Brexit relationship. We have already seen a wide range of impacts, and while almost eight years have passed since the UK decision, the ramifications are still playing out.

The conclusion of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, TCA, in 2021 does provide a sound basis for future EU and UK engagement and it avoided the negative and immediate impacts which a no-deal Brexit would have caused at that point. In respect of the new trading environment, the TCA provides for the maintenance of tariff-free trade between the UK and the EU, which is particularly important for lreland, given the level of trade between our two countries. The TCA does not, however, provide for the full trade facilitation benefits which the EU Single Market delivers. The UK’s decision to leave both the EU customs union and Single Market has resulted in significant changes in how trade takes place between the EU and the UK. Full EU and UK customs requirements which apply to other non-EU trading partners now apply to all trade between the EU and UK.

From the agrifood perspective, for imports of food from the UK, full EU sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, requirements that are applicable for imports from third countries were introduced from 1 January 2021, which is more than three years ago now. The application of these requirements on imports from Great Britain has been challenging for UK businesses and their Irish customers, but the investment made by the Irish Government in preparing for these changes ensured there was minimal disruption to trade.

We have now reached another milestone in post-Brexit EU-UK trading arrangements. For EU and Irish imports to Great Britain, the UK Government has been taking a phased approach to the introduction of full customs requirements and sanitary and phytosanitary import controls for EU agrifood goods. The next phase of these UK import requirements will now be applied by the UK Government from 31 January. There are three significant changes which Irish exporters to Great Britain and their supply chain partners must meet from this date. First, full UK customs import declarations must be lodged on the UK customs systems in advance of goods entering Great Britain. This removes the current six-month delay derogation for making these declarations which has been applied by the UK since the end of the Brexit transition period. For agrifood imports from Ireland, all animal products and all high- and medium-risk plant products imported to Great Britain must be now be pre-notified on the UK food and feed import system by the GB importer of the goods or their GB-based agent from 31 January.

For animal and plant products which have been categorised as high or medium risk by the UK, each import consignment will require export health certification. This export certificate must be completed and signed by an official inspector or official veterinarian from the Irish competent authority supervising each individual food business. These new UK requirements will also apply to animal products transiting across the Great Britain land bridge to EU markets from Ireland. All animal products must be pre-notified and high- or medium-risk animal products must have a transit health certificate. The transit requirements do not apply to plant products. As I said, all of these changes will apply from 31 January 2024. From midnight on 30 January, these changes will apply. They will apply on 31 January.

These new UK requirements represent a significant change in the trading arrangements for Irish exports to Great Britain. It is therefore important that all businesses involved in the Ireland to Great Britain supply chain ensure they are ready to meet these changes. In respect of the agrifood sector, this requires Irish food businesses exporting to Great Britain, their logistics providers, their customs agent and freight forwarder, and their Great British customers, to be clear who is responsible for meeting each of the new UK requirements and ensuring that the supply chain timings are aligned to meet the new requirements. An important message for Irish businesses is that while the UK Government has postponed the introduction of these import requirements on a number of occasions over the past three years, these changes are now definitely coming into effect on 31 January 2024 based on all of the latest engagement we have had with the UK Government on these issues. There will be no further postponements, according to the UK Government.

This Government, including my Department, has continued, as it has in the run-up to previous UK deadlines, to support businesses in preparing for these new UK import requirements. Following publication of the UK border target operating model, my Department carried out a comprehensive assessment of the new UK requirements. This included analysis of the new UK risk categorisation approach to controls on agrifood goods to understand which UK requirements apply to which products. This UK approach is significantly different from the approach taken by the EU to imports from the UK. Our assessment also included detailed surveys of food businesses across all product categories to assess the certification demand to Great Britain. There has been extensive engagement between local competent authority supervisory teams with individual food businesses to agree processes to meet UK requirements. In respect of provision of Great British export health certificates, my Department hasalso developed new processes and standard operating procedures to support Irish exporters in meeting the new certification demands from UK. A comprehensive Government communications plan to raise awareness of the requirements, including wide-ranging stakeholder engagement across a number of Government Departments, including my own Department, has been implemented.

There has also been extensive direct engagement with all stakeholders, including the circulation of information and guidance to over 1,000 businesses involved in the agrifood sector supply chain, a series of detailed information webinars, a series of dedicated training programmes for certifying officers and food businesses on export certification requirements and processes, and the EU trade control and expert system, TRACES, which will deliver e-certificates. We have also seen the implementation of a detailed human resource plan, with a focus on deploying certifying officer resources in the most efficient and effective manner to deliver certification. There has been investment in IT infrastructure to support certification in the food businesses located in every county in the country.

I believe Irish exporters have engaged with all of these activities and are preparing for these changes in the Ireland-UK trading environment. However, as we approach the end of January deadline for these changes, I would urge all businesses to make sure they are ready. Those who may still be unsure of the requirements should reach out to my Department now.

I urge the following key messages on all exporters to the UK. They should familiarise themselves with the new UK customs and sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, requirements. They should engage with everyone in their supply chain, including their customers and importers in Great Britain, as well as their transport and logistics providers, to make sure they are aware of their new roles and responsibilities. Agrifood and animal exporters should check the UK's rules and risk categories to find out if they will need an export health certificate. Companies should ensure their Great British importer or agent is registered on the UK import of products, animals, food and feed system, IPAFFS, and that the IPAFFS reference number is included in the customs import declaration. Those who are exporting live animals or animal products must register as an approved exporter on EU TRACES. They should engage with the local competent authority supervisory team responsible for their food business, whether that is my Department, the HSE, a local authority veterinary service or the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, to agree how this certification, if required, can be provided. Any business that remains unsure of the requirements and what they need to do should access the online resources on gov.ieor contact my Department's Brexit helpline at brexit@agriculture.gov.ie.

The UK market is of critical importance to the Irish economy and in particular to the Irish agrifood sector. While Brexit has inevitably presented challenges for Ireland, Irish businesses have shown themselves to be resilient and agile in meeting these challenges over the past eight years since the UK voted to leave the EU. It is very important that Irish businesses fully engage with, and prepare for, this next phase of Brexit-related changes to the Ireland-UK trading environment. The Government, as it has throughout the Brexit process, stands ready to continue to support Irish businesses involved in Ireland to Great Britain supply chains in meeting this next phase of Brexit changes.

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