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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has urged food business operators and agri-food exporters to engage with preparations for meeting new UK import control requirements.
The new set of controls, as set out in the UK Government’s new Border Target Operating Model document, now apply from 31 October 2023.
Speaking at the 29th meeting of the Consultative Committee of Stakeholders on Brexit, the Minister said:
“I want to underline the importance for all actors in Ireland-to-Britain agri-food supply chains of reactivating their preparations for new UK import requirements for agri-food imports from the EU, including Ireland, which will now begin to apply from 31 October this year. That is less than six months away.
“If we don’t prepare intensively for these changes it could result in disruption of Irish agri-food exports and supply chains to Britain - our nearest and largest market, and one which continues to be of fundamental importance to the positive future development of the agri-food sector. The British market is a crucial one for us and we will never turn our back on it.
“This has been something of a sleeping giant for us all. It is crucial that we are prepared, alert and ready for these critical changes.”
At the Consultative Committee the Minister outlined the main changes that will apply to Irish agri-food exports to Britain from 31 October 2023, including a requirement to pre-notify all exports using the UK’s food and feed import system (IPAFFS) and to have an export health certificate accompany exports to Britain of a wide range of products, including meats (beef, pigmeat, poultry, sheep meat), dairy products that contain raw milk, table eggs and an extensive list of animal by-products.
The Minister underlined the department’s commitment to support the Irish agri-food sector and all actors in Ireland to GB supply chains in preparing for these changes:
“My department has relaunched and reset our detailed plans to support industry in meeting these new UK requirements. These plans include information webinars, training on the EU TRACES IT system, training on how to apply for export health certificates, allocation of appropriate department resources to meet certification requirements and engagement with individual food businesses by local veterinary teams on the processes required to support the use of export health certification. I urge all food business operators who are exporting to Britain to engage with these preparatory measures over the coming weeks and months.”
The Committee also received an update from the department on the agri-food elements of the recent Windsor Framework agreement between the EU and the UK.
Businesses can get in touch with the department on any Brexit-related issues including details on upcoming information and events through:
The latest version of the UK Target Operating Model is available at: