Publication
Organics - Circular 2 of 2020 - Brexit and the Irish Organic Sector
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
11 December 2020
To: All Organic Operators and Organic Control Bodies (OCBs)
Brexit and the Irish Organic Sector
From 1 January 2021, regardless of the outcome of the current EU-UK trade talks, new regulatory and customs requirements are going to be part of trading with or through Great Britain. The UK will no longer apply the rules of the Single Market or the Customs Union (except in Northern Ireland in accordance with the Protocol).
1. Approval of UK OCBs
The European Commission has approved the UK OCBs listed underneath to certify UK goods for export to the EU from 1 January 2021. It is expected that the amendment to the relevant regulation (Reg. No. 1235/2008) will be published in late December 2020.
- Soil Association
- Organic Food Federation
- Biodynamic Association
- Organic Farmers & Growers (Scotland) Ltd
- Organic Farmers & Growers C. I. C.
- Quality Welsh
2. Imports of organic product from Great Britain
Considerable quantities of organic farming inputs, including feed and seed, are imported from the UK. It is likely that in most cases such imports will be certified by one of the above OCBs for importation from 1 January 2021, however importers or first consignees are advised to check that such consignments are certified by an approved UK OCB.
3. Requirements for importation from Third Countries (incl. Great Britain)
a. All organic products from third countries must enter Ireland through one of the nominated Border Control Post (BCP) i.e. Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport, Rosslare Port.
It is to be noted that Shannon Airport is not a nominated BCP for the importation of Plants and Plant Products from third countries.
b. Imported products must be accompanied by a Certificate Of Inspection (COI) which is signed off by the OCB certifying the relevant operators in the Third Country. Members States Authorities are required to carry out documentary checks on these COIs.
c. Importers or first consignees are subject to specific requirements including to
- be certified as an organic importer on an annual basis by an Irish OCB.
- register as an organic importer with DAFM at BrexitRegistration@agriculture.gov.ie to register.
- register on TRACES NT - contact BrexitRegistration@agriculture.gov.ie to register.
d. Prenotification must be provided at least 24 hours in advance prior to the arrival of a consignment at the BCP to DAFM and the Irish OCB.
4. Export of organic produce to Great Britain
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK has stated that the UK will recognise the EU as equivalent for the purposes of trade in organic until 31 December 2021; that the objective is to secure long term organic equivalence with the EU. As a temporary measure, organic products imported into GB from the EU will not require a Certificate Of Inspection (COI) until 30 June 2021. From 1 July 2021, organic products imported into GB from the EU will require a COI. For specific queries please email DEFRA at Organic.Imports@defra.gov.uk
5. Northern Ireland
Under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (IE/NI Protocol) it is proposed that Northern Ireland will be treated as an EU Member State in terms of movement of goods. Under this Protocol organic produce from Northern Ireland can be imported to the Republic of Ireland as EU Organic without the necessity for a COI. Please visit the DAFM website for updates on this.
6. Importers of organic potatoes need to note prohibition of the import of seed and ware potatoes (incl. organic product) from Great Britain from 1 January 2021.
The UK has applied to the EU for Third Country equivalence for the export of certified seed and ware potatoes to the EU; the EU has indicated that this process will only begin on the completion of trade negotiations with the UK. Consequently, the import of certified seed and ware potatoes from Great Britain will be prohibited from 1 January 2021. Importers are strongly encouraged to have imports of certified seed and ware potatoes from Great Britain landed in Ireland before 1 January 2021. For more information related to the prohibition on the importation of seed and ware potatoes, please see Trader Notice no.7 at Plant Health & Trade - Trader Notices
For more information relating to the trade of plants and plant products with the UK from 1 January 2021 please consult the gov.ie website for more information at Trading in Plants and Plant Products with the UK
7. Registration under EU Plant Health Directive
Irish organic operators buying seed/ transplants from the UK must register with DAFM as an importer under the EU Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031; these operators will be required to register as professional operators. This registration covers imports and exports to and from the UK. All regulated seeds, plants and plant products coming from the UK from 1 January 2021 will require a phytosanitary certificate.
The following link includes the necessary registration documents, import and export procedures Trading in Plants and Plant Products with the UK
Yours sincerely,
Joan Furlong/ Seamus Barron
Assistant Principal Officer/ Agricultural Inspector
Organic Unit AES Division
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine