The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) issued a guidance document to industry on the 26th September 2023 in relation to new export health certification requirements for exports of fish, fishery products and molluscan shellfish from Ireland to Great Britain. The guidance document is available on sfpa.ie and can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://www.sfpa.ie/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Z8VhQKMMe94%3d&portalid=0
The UK Government has published a Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) outlining their vision for the implementation of border controls over the coming months and years following on from the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls are a central element in the framework set out in this BTOM which can be read in full on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-border-target-operating-model-august-2023
UK border control authorities plan to implement SPS controls based on their classification of products and exporting countries as being either low, medium, or high-risk. This risk-rating will determine the necessity for official controls including Export Health Certificates, pre-notification of consignments and frequency of physical checks at the border among other SPS control procedures. This will be done across several milestone dates. The UK Authorities are proposing the introduction of the requirement for Export Health Certificates and pre-notification for Medium-Risk Animal Products imported from the EU, including Ireland, from 31st of January 2024. As controls in relation to imports from Ireland are being harmonised with the UK’s approach to imports from the rest of the EU, Export Health Certificates, and pre-notification of exports from Ireland of High-Risk animal products travelling directly from Ireland to Great Britain, will also be implemented from 31st of January 2024.
Queries regarding this guidance document may be addressed to SFPATradeandAudit@sfpa.ie.
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