Don’t be Brexit foolish this April 1st

On 1st April additional import controls come in for certain products being imported into the UK. This includes products such as meat, dairy, fish, products of animal origin, as well as regulated plants and plant products.

If people have learned one thing from Brexit so far I hope it is that ignoring it and hoping it will all work out in the end is not a reliable strategy. If your paperwork etc is not correct at the port it will not be allowed to enter the UK.

• On 1st April, the UK government will introduce new & additional import controls on certain categories of goods from the EU.
• This means:
  • Irish & EU Exporters need to complete the necessary customs formalities that have been in place for many other goods since 1st January 2021
  • Irish & EU exporters exporting to the UK need to have their UK importer (customer) pre-notify the UK authorities of these goods coming into the UK
  • Irish & EU exporters must get the appropriate Export Health Certificates from the Irish (or their national) authorities.
  • The goods can only move with the required Export Health Certificatess.
• These new controls will impact on exporters of all products of animal origin, including
  • Meat
  • Dairy
  • Fish
  • Composite products incorporating products of animal origin
  • Regulated plants and plant products.

But just as in the run up to the last Brexit deadline there is still time to prepare. There are government supports and grants available to help companies with this especially for things like staff training. Put some time in now and it will save you a lot of heartache and stress on the 1st April.

Don’t be caught out this April fool’s day.

Vist https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cd195-preparing-for-new-uk-import-controls-1-april-1-july/ for more details on this change from an Irish perspective

Visit www.gov.ie/brexit for more information on supports and training that is available.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-business-exporting-to-the-uk for more information from the UK government on the requirements