The UK has secured approval to continue exporting animals
and animal products to the EU if we leave without a deal on
31 October – providing certainty for a market worth more
than £5 billion a year.
Environment Secretary confirmed today
that EU member states have granted the UK ‘national listed
status’, which ensures exports of live animals and products
of animal origin, such as meat, fish and dairy, can
continue.
The move recognises the UK’s high biosecurity and animal
health standards and will bring welcome clarity to the
country’s world-leading farmers and food producers.
Environment Secretary, , said:
This is good news for UK businesses. It demonstrates our
very high standards of biosecurity and animal health
which we will continue to maintain and improve after we
leave the EU.
If you or your business import or export animal and
animal products, we want to make sure you are ready for
Brexit. Our guidance sets out what you need to do to
continue to trade after we leave the EU.
Our top priority remains delivering Brexit by the end of
October, and our preference is to do that with a
negotiated deal, but it is the job of a responsible
Government to ensure we are ready to leave without a deal
and without any further pointless delay.
The EU’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and
Feed confirmed the acceptance of the UK’s listed status on
Friday (October 11) after it met the health and biosecurity
assurances required for a third country.
With listed status now confirmed, if we leave without a
deal, businesses exporting animals and animal products to
the EU will still need to meet new requirements, such as
going through the correct EU Border Inspection Post.
Businesses will also require an Export Health Certificate,
which will need to be signed by a certifier such as an
Official Veterinarian.
The decision will also allow the continued movement of
equines between the UK and the EU, providing welcome
reassurance to the sector.
British Horseracing Authority Executive Director Will Lambe
said:
This is very welcome news for our sector, and provides
some important certainty ahead of a 31st October
departure from the EU. There will still be additional
requirements for our participants wishing to travel a
horse into the EU, but full guidance and assistance is
available. We continue to support and appreciate the UK
Government’s position that there will be no immediate
change to arrangements for thoroughbreds travelling into
the UK in the event of no deal.
Guidance for animal importers and exporters is
available on GOV.UK. End to end journey
maps, clearly set out all the steps exporters will need
to take. The exports guidance has been updated to clarify
that EHCs will be required for all different product types
within a consignment. Specific guidance for equine
exporters is available.
If we leave with a deal, the UK will not need to be listed
during the implementation period. To give certainty to
businesses and citizens, common rules will remain in place
until the end of the implementation period meaning
businesses will be able to trade on the same terms as now
up until the end of 2020.
