Press release
Minister McConalogue urges all business to ensure readiness for new UK agri-food import controls
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has urged all businesses in the Ireland to Great Britain agri-food supply chain to make sure they are prepared for the new UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary import controls which will commence from tomorrow 31 January 2024.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting at which he and the Tánaiste provided an update on support for businesses preparing for the new UK requirements, Minister McConalogue underlined that:
“It is important that all Irish agri-food exporters recognise that these new UK import requirements represent a significant change in Ireland’s and the EU’s post Brexit trading environment with the GB market. All 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.”
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been working closely with all stakeholders in agri-food sector to support them in preparing these UK changes.
The Minister noted:
“My department, along with other government departments and agencies have had extensive engagement with the agri-food sector over the last two years on these new UK requirements. 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.