Compliance Protocol and Guidance for Authorised Traders published by DAERA

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has published two guides to help people and businesses navigate the new procedures to follow when moving animals, plants, food and feed from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, after the UK leaves the EU on the 1 January 2021.

The Guidance for Authorised Traders (during the three month grace period) and the Compliance Protocol set out the new processes for retail goods. They also highlight the flexibilities agreed between the UK government and the EU that will enable goods and products to move as seamlessly as possible through Northern Ireland’s Points of Entry, avoiding any unnecessary delay.

The Compliance Protocol also sets out the measures that will be taken where non-compliance is detected and establishes a pathway to full compliance for retail goods, prohibited and restricted chilled meat products and pets.

Following publication of the documents, Northern Ireland’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Robert Huey said: “EU laws will continue to be applied to all animals, plants and food produced and marketed in Northern Ireland. The documents published today aim to prevent or reduce harm to animal, plant and public health, and to help Northern Ireland’s people, retailers and traders understand the new processes that will be applied from 01 January 2021, after the end of the transition period. They also aim to highlight the flexibilities agreed between the UK government and the EU in order to make the processes as seamless as possible.”

Dr Huey urged anyone who moves animals or goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to read the new guides as soon as possible: “Individuals and businesses should thoroughly read the Compliance Protocol and the Guidance for Authorised Traders and understand what they need to do to keep trading. While some of the new processes will be phased in over time, many of them start immediately – therefore people should read these guides as soon as they can.

“It is clear how complex the food, animal and plant supply chains are and these documents explain how to navigate the changes. They set out how to move food, animals and plants and aim to bring all the various parts of the journey together to prepare traders for the new requirements. We will of course work with traders as much as possible.”

Dr Huey also said: “There is a section on pet travel, which everyone who wishes to travel with their pet should read and familiarise themselves with, to ensure they adhere to the new regulations and travel without unnecessary inconvenience or delay.”

The Compliance Protocol and Guidance for Authorised Retailers can be found at;

• https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/guidance-authorised-traders-during-three-month-grace-period
• https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/compliance-protocol-sanitary-phytosanitary-controls-and-point-entry-marketing-standards-checks-gb-ni

Notes to editors: 

1. Products subject to marketing standards regulations include fruit and vegetables, hops, wine, beef and veal, eggs in shell, hatching eggs and chicks, olive oil and poultry meat.
2. DAERA and the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland (FSA NI) are the central competent authorities (CCAs) for the regulation of imports that will be subject to SPS checks in Northern Ireland under the relevant EU legislation and, as such, fulfil a legislative and policy making role and are responsible for designating competent authorities to perform official controls that verify that imports entering Northern Ireland comply with the requirements of EU law.
3. Follow DAERA on Twitter @daera_ni and Facebook
4. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA press office -  pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk
5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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