DEFRA IMPORT AND EXPORT NEWSLETTER – 25/09/2019

Please see the below newsletter issued by DEFRA.   Welcome to the third edition of Defra’s import and export newsletter. The 31 October is approaching and it is important that you are well prepared so that you can continue to import and export goods after Brexit. Since our last newsletter, there have been some helpful updates that you might like to know about to help you and your business get ready.   Getting ready for the new export process While we talked you through the export process in the last newsletter, we have now started our public-facing media and marketing campaign to ensure wider stakeholders can get ready for the changes to the export process. You can find the press release here.   A new dedicated Import and Export Trader Helpline has been set up As part of the Get Ready for Brexit campaign, the Government has set up a dedicated telephone service for traders and hauliers trading goods with the EU after 31 October 2019. The helpline will provide up-to-date guidance to help you prepare for Brexit, and can be contacted on 0300 3301 331, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.   Further information on when you need an EORI Number As there is still some confusion around when an EORI number is required, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a ‘myth buster’ leaflet. This can be found here.   Exports: A new risk-based approach for exports of fish   A new risk-based approach has been agreed for Export Health Certificate inspections for fish. This will help reduce the amount of time involved in applying for an EHC for fish exports. The new guidance has been issued to local government Certifying Officers.   Imports: Registration for notification of imports of animals or animal products from on-EU countries If you import animals or animal products from non-EU countries you must register on the new IPAFFS IT system, which will replace the EU TRACES system for notification from 31 October. Registration for IPAFFS will be open from 30 September with full details available on Gov.UK shortly.   Keeping up to date Government are working hard to ensure you can get ready for Brexit through a variety of ways. This newsletter is one way of hearing about the changes, but there are other ways to find out what you need to do to be ready including:

• New  e-alerts to keep you up to date

Defra has launched a new e-alert system that will provide subscribers with the latest Defra news and as well as relevant updates from other Government departments. You can tailor your subscription so that you only receive information that is of interest to you. You can subscribe to this service here.

• Brexit Business Readiness Roadshows

The government is running a number of free roadshows across the UK to help businesses prepare for Brexit. Government advisors from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Home Office, HMRC, the Department for International Trade, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be on hand to provide advice and to answer questions. Details of the confirmed events can be found here.   To Do list for this week Each newsletter will highlight a set of key actions to take that will help ensure that you are prepared for 31 October. If it is relevant to you and you haven’t done it already, you need to make sure that you do it as soon as possible.

• In the seafood industry? Register for a seafood roadshow – In partnership with Seafish and the Marine Management Organisation, Defra, are hosting a series of events across England to help seafood traders, processors and businesses understand the changes that lie ahead and what they can do to prepare. The remaining dates and locations are:26th September – Fleetwood 4th October – London 

Registration is on a first come first serve basis and attendees will be notified of venue locations closer to the time. You can register for the events here.

• Identify an Official Vet to sign off your Export Health Certificate (EHC) – If you export animals or animal products and haven’t already identified an Official Vet to sign-off your EHC’s, you should do so as quickly as possible. This will help to ensure that you are able to get your EHC’s completed when you need them.

A list businesses providing OV’s able to supply export health certification services in England, Scotland and Wales can be found here. Details of OV’s in Northern Ireland can be obtained from DERA. Please note that vet’s need to give us their permission to include their details, so some OV’s are not listed.

• Find your EU Border Inspection Post – Check that your proposed point of entry into the EU has a Border Inspection Post (BIP) that can accept your consignment. The current list of EU BIPs can be found here. Please note, the EU Commission is not expected to finalise the list of EU BIPs which will be available to traders in a no-deal scenario until mid-October.

• Do you plan to employ EU citizens arriving after the 31^st October? EU citizens can continue to come to the UK to work on farms and in food businesses if there is a Brexit deal or not. Further information can be found here.

We hope you find this newsletter useful.