Irish businesses exporting to the Britain should prepare for new UK import controls on 1 October, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has said.

The new import controls will impact on exporters of all products of animal origin, including all:

• Meat,
• Dairy,
• Fish,
• Composite products incorporating products of animal origin,
• Certain animal by-products,
• High-risk food not of animal origin, and
• Regulated plants and plant products.

In addition to the necessary customs formalities, Irish exporters exporting to or through Britain, excluding Northern Ireland, need to comply with a number of new requirements.

British importers will have to pre-notify their authorities of the goods, while the Irish exporter will need the appropriate health certificates from the Irish authorities and to move the goods using these health certificates.

Consignments

The type of export health certificate required for individual categories of products may differ and, therefore, consignments with different products may require a number of certificates.

Further controls will come into force on 1 January 2022 and 1 March 2022.

Government sources say that it is crucial that exporters fully understand these new import requirements.

Everyone in the supply chain, including British importers, will need to be clear on their roles and responsibilities.