Recommendations & Conclusions
13 items
1
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
We welcome the successful negotiation of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) with the EU, and its preservation of tariff and quota free trade for seafood and meat. However, the Agreement introduces substantial non-tariff barriers for such exports, in particular the requirement for an Export Health Certificate (EHC). Although there …
Government response. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) represents a major achievement in facilitating trade between the UK and the EU, delivering a deal for the UK in record time, and under extremely challenging conditions. We have secured an unprecedented Free Trade …
2
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
We commend seafood and meat exporters on their efforts to prepare for the new trading environment with the EU amidst the covid-19 pandemic, and acknowledge the considerable uncertainty of what they were preparing for. In as much as this uncertainty similarly hampered the Government in what support and guidance it …
Government response. Commission on the issue of Live Bivalve Molluscs (LBMs). Prior to EU exit, Defra officials examined the Export Health Certificates (EHCs) needed for trade with the EU. Their work concluded that the export of molluscs was legal and that there …
3
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
The Government should also have worked more closely with the EU and Members States to test systems in advance of 1 January, pre-empting some of the teething problems exporters faced in January. The UK Government should learn from this, and in advance of the imposition of full import checks over …
Government response. Since August 2020, Defra has reached over 14,000 EU stakeholders through a programme of events organised by the Border and Protocol Delivery Groups (BPDGs). The approach to engagement was to reach as many businesses in the EU as possible and …
4
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
Since the Transition Period ended, Defra has worked with stakeholders to resolve these teething problems and we commend its efforts. However, the new non-tariff barriers for exporters to the EU will impose substantive and enduring costs. As a result, larger businesses may move the processing of seafood and meat to …
Government response. Defra welcomes the Committee’s recognition of its efforts to resolve the issues faced by exporters at the start of the year, as the country transitioned towards a new trading relationship with the EU. The Committee’s specific recommendations have been addressed …
5
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
The Government took early steps to secure a significant increase in capacity to deal with the substantial increase in demand for certification officers, and there does not appear to have been significant shortages. However, we note that increased demands for Official Veterinarians (OVs) to certify EHCs have reduced the number …
Government response. Defra welcomes the Committee’s recognition of the work taken to increase certifier capacity before 01 January 2021. Between January 2021 and April 2021, Defra, APHA and FSA made a group of Official Veterinarians available to certification providers and local authorities …
6
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
There is merit in exploring the creation of a public sector service of full-time certifying officers, especially given the Government’s desire to increase food and drink exports. This could increase confidence that EHCs would be promptly certified and provide a standardised pricing structure. Defra should examine the experience of other …
Government response. Official Veterinarians in Great Britain operate in the commercial Official Veterinarian (OV) market and we have no plans to change that. However, we always look to learn from how other countries provide official certification services whilst being mindful of the …
7
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
Digital certification of EHCs is a vital step to reducing trade friction with the EU. We acknowledge that the Government cannot require the European Union to accept electronic certification for GB seafood and meat exports. Nevertheless, the Government should make agreement on the digital certification of EHCs a priority in …
Government response. Technical work is underway on the production of electronic EHCs and ePhytos (the plant equivalent of an electronic EHC). This work is being conducted in parallel with technical and policy discussions with the EU Commission to ensure the delivery is …
8
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
While the Seafood Disruption Support Scheme helped to compensate some SME seafood businesses for the teething problems they faced in January, it did not offer compensation to businesses who had incurred costs preparing for the new trading environment with the EU. The arbitrary £100,000 cap on claims also meant that …
Government response. We are pleased that the committee recognises the steps taken by the Government to engage with and support the fishing sector. We have now delivered millions of pounds to support thousands of seafood businesses across the UK, reflecting the Government’s …
9
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
Certification of Export Health Certificates have created additional costs to businesses, which fall disproportionately on SMEs. Defra should explore a version of the Movement Assistance Scheme that supports businesses with the cost of exporting seafood and meat and other food. Such a scheme could apply to the EU and other …
Government response. Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. To ensure successful delivery of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and recognising that the unique requirements for moving goods within the UK’s own customs territory could result in some businesses facing …
10
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
As the problems that faced exporters in January highlighted, groupage is an important part of the export process especially for smaller businesses. With the new requirements for Export Health Certificates and other red tape when exporting seafood and meat to the EU, it is vital that groupage can be conducted …
Government response. 10 Fourth Special Report of Session 2021–22 to support the establishment of additional hubs for meat, fish and plant exports, and to investigate additional groupage models. Work is already underway, with stakeholders, to identify strategic locations for the establishment of …
11
Conclusion
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
Many production grounds for LBM in England and Wales are predominantly Class B under the current arrangements, and therefore produce from them is ineligible for export to the EU unless purified first. We welcome the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) April 2021 seasonal classification of LBM production grounds in England which …
Government response. Prior to EU exit, the Shellfish Stakeholder Working Group, chaired by the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB), commissioned a study from Seafish into official controls on shellfish to inform discussion about differences in the way the classification process is …
12
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
Great Britain should have introduced SPS checks on all EU imports from 1 January 2021 to match the position taken by the EU. The continued absence of SPS checks and controls on EU imports undermines the competitiveness of British seafood and meat businesses in their home market, creates incentives to …
Government response. 2 https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/fsa-21–06–13-ce-report-annex.pdf 12 Fourth Special Report of Session 2021–22 At the end of the transition period, when the EU introduced full third country controls on both imports and exports, the Government adopted a pragmatic and flexible approach and recognising the …
13
Recommendation
Eighth Report - Seafood and meat export…
As this Report highlights, the TCA has introduced considerable trade friction for seafood and meat exporters. We welcome the Government’s willingness to engage with the EU to seek an equivalence mechanism on agri-foods. The Government should engage with the EU and adopt a pragmatic stance in the pursuit of a …
Government response. The TCA, which has now been ratified by the EU, allows the UK and the EU to cooperate on avoiding unnecessary SPS barriers to trade in agri-food goods. Over time, this cooperation will help to reduce the burden on businesses …