Individual food consignments, including every milk tanker and lorry load of livestock, will require an export health certificate (EHC) to cross the border from Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with authorities becoming increasingly concerned of “significant difficulties” to trade.
Over 60 food distributors have already contacted Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) indicating that they will need access to EHCs in the event of a no-deal Brexit to export goods to the EU, including the Republic of Ireland.
“An export health certificate would be required for each consignment of product of animal origin being exported to the EU after [Brexit].
“It is not a matter of certifying the businesses, rather the products themselves in advance of export,” DAERA told the Irish Farmers Journal.
It also confirmed that co-ops and dairy processors collecting and delivering milk on both sides of the border would have to apply for EHCs. For all live animal and other animal products exports, an authorised veterinary inspector is needed to sign off on the export.
There are up to 33,000 milk tanker crossings every year and 423,000 lambs came south of the border for processing last year.
When asked if DAERA expected to be capable of meeting demand for EHCs in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it stated that the issue was being prioritised.
“As we anticipate significant demand for export health certificates, DAERA has already recruited additional resources and trained existing staff to increase its capacity and capability. Available staff will be assigned to certification duties on a prioritised basis as necessary.
“DAERA clearly recognises that a no-deal scenario will bring very challenging trading conditions. Alongside tariff barriers, the agri-food sector can expect to face non-tariff barriers, delays, additional administration and costs.
“There is no doubt that cross-border trade will face significant difficulties,” it said.
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Individual food consignments, including every milk tanker and lorry load of livestock, will require an export health certificate (EHC) to cross the border from Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with authorities becoming increasingly concerned of “significant difficulties” to trade.
Over 60 food distributors have already contacted Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) indicating that they will need access to EHCs in the event of a no-deal Brexit to export goods to the EU, including the Republic of Ireland.
“An export health certificate would be required for each consignment of product of animal origin being exported to the EU after [Brexit].
“It is not a matter of certifying the businesses, rather the products themselves in advance of export,” DAERA told the Irish Farmers Journal.
It also confirmed that co-ops and dairy processors collecting and delivering milk on both sides of the border would have to apply for EHCs. For all live animal and other animal products exports, an authorised veterinary inspector is needed to sign off on the export.
There are up to 33,000 milk tanker crossings every year and 423,000 lambs came south of the border for processing last year.
When asked if DAERA expected to be capable of meeting demand for EHCs in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it stated that the issue was being prioritised.
“As we anticipate significant demand for export health certificates, DAERA has already recruited additional resources and trained existing staff to increase its capacity and capability. Available staff will be assigned to certification duties on a prioritised basis as necessary.
“DAERA clearly recognises that a no-deal scenario will bring very challenging trading conditions. Alongside tariff barriers, the agri-food sector can expect to face non-tariff barriers, delays, additional administration and costs.
“There is no doubt that cross-border trade will face significant difficulties,” it said.
Read more
Watch: Cow rescued in Kinsale after falling into the sea
Brexit cull of NI dairy cows– scaremongering or reality?
Cross-border agri trade to 'virtually stop' in no-deal Brexit
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