Importers of agrifood products face new rules
UK businesses should take steps to minimise the impact of new checks on goods imported from EU countries, now being phased in as part of the trade deal with the EU following the end of the Brexit transition period.
The new rules, which the UK government has deferred several times, are at last being implemented.
For some EU agrifood products – medium risk animal products, plants and plant products, and high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin - additional controls (over and above the requirement for safety and security declarations) are being introduced. These EU agrifood products are treated the same as non-EU agrifood products, as follows:
Importers affected by the new rules should consider whether and how their existing supply chains may be disrupted, including the impact of possible delays - and possible withdrawal of some EU suppliers from the UK market - on contractual obligations between them and their suppliers and customers, and their costs and prices.
Importers should also consider whether to explore alternative non-EU suppliers.