Defra Trade Associations Representing Importers / Exporters - 19/03/2019

Delivering the deal negotiated with the European Union (EU) remains the government’s top priority. This has not changed. However the Government must prepare for every eventuality, including a No Deal scenario. The Government has been implementing a significant programme of work to ensure that UK is prepared to leave the EU on March 29 2019. Below is information on recent announcements regarding imports and exports of animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed after EU Exit.

Imports:

We will be sending you some key information over the coming weeks to prepare you for a Day 1 ‘no-deal’ scenario as a UK importer. You may be aware that DEFRA is developing a UK Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS), which will replace TRACES for the UK. For some time IPAFFS was known as the Import Notifications System (INS) but the name has been updated to better reflect the commodities that it is used for. As an importer you will need to use IPAFFS for notifying the import of live animals, animal products, and high risk food and feed into the UK from a Third Country. You can find out more about what this means here. All businesses who currently import from the European Union using ITACHs and DOCOMS (e.g. live animals and some very specific animal products) will, for a short period of time after 29 March 2019, need to use an (online) form-based system and further information will be communicated this month. We have begun a phased process, providing all users’ access to IPAFFS. We need to take this approach in order to manage the registration process and use of the system, and you will be contacted to inform you when this will happen. All businesses will be able to register and have access to IPAFFS before 29 March, however businesses will have access to IPAFFS at different times. A mixture of support will be provided so that you can become familiar with IPAFFS as early as possible. This includes webinars, guidance and training to help you use IPAFFS, ready for Day 1. During this transition period continue to log consignment notifications through TRACES.  We will continue to keep you informed but if you do have any imports questions you can email the team at BFPEUExit.ImportsExports@defra.gov.uk.

Exports:

As you may be aware that if the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 with no withdrawal agreement or deal in place, Export Health Certificates (EHCs) would be required for exports of all animal products and live animals from the UK to the EU. Furthermore, exports will need to arrive in the EU through a Border Inspection Post, and it is the exporters’ responsibility to check that their trade routes comply with these changes. Our new guidance, which explains all you need to know about exporting goods, should the UK leave the EU without a deal. Updated guidance for obtaining an EHC is now available here. In addition, the EHCs required for exports of animals and animal products to the EU in the event of a No Deal are now available here, based on the model certificates set out in the relevant EU legislation. These EHCs are accompanied by Notes for Guidance (NFG). To help with the EHC process, Government has launched a new authorised signatory finder, to help exporters when processing EHC applications. Please note that the EHCs for exports of animals and animal products to the EU in the event of a No Deal would only be required for consignments arriving after 11pm on the 29th of March 2019. We ask hope that businesses will now take the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new documents, and requirements to ensure they are ready to continue exporting in the event of a no deal. We would be happy to take any feedback on the NFGs by 1 March 2019, if there are essential points that you would like to raise – please send feedback to BFPEUExit.ImportsExports@defra.gov.uk Lastly, the FSA has recently made available guidance on the health and identification marks that will be required for certain food products if the UK leaves the EU – the guidance is available here.