Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1031. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of the animal and plant safety documentation involved in the new UK to Ireland animal and plant health checks that is handled electronically arising from the EU-UK Free Trade Agreement; the amount handled by way of the presentation or use of paper documentation; if paper documentation is used, when is it planned to migrate to an electronic system of plant and animal health safety controls and check; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13215/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The requirements for animal and plant safety documentation are laid down in the Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, the Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and the IMSOC Regulation (EU) 2019/1715. These requirements apply to all imports of such commodities into the European Union, regardless of whether the country has a free trade agreement with the EU or not.

All documentation required can be handled electronically. The requirement to submit certain information, in advance of the arrival of the consignment, as well as for the border official to certify that the consignment complies with the requirements, is handled through European Commission’s online platform called the Trade Expert and Control System (TRACES for short). Also in advance of arrival, importers can upload copies of documentation required for import controls (health certificates, customs declarations, commercial invoices etc) to an IT system specially built by DAFM (Import Notification Inspection System (INIS) Portal) to handle the very significant increase in demand for import controls following the departure of the UK from the European Union. Uploading of all documentation required in advance, facilitates checks in advance and the detection of problems before the consignments are presented at the border control post.

Whilst all documentation can be handled electronically, there is still a legal requirement at EU level for original paper health certificates to be submitted. Work is under way at EU level to replace the requirement for paper health certificates with electronic health certificates. This is a complex process as it requires electronic compatibility between systems in countries exporting to the EU, and EU systems. It also requires the development of solutions that will ensure the security of such certificates. However, my Department is committed to working through this.