How does Brexit affect trade in foreign products?

How does Brexit affect trade in foreign products? 🤔

We all know well that from January 1, 2021, EU trade with the UK is subject to the same rules as for third countries. This means introducing customs control along with all other border controls, including, of course, the safety and quality requirements of agri-food products.

Thanks to the courtesy of sharing information on the website warzywaiowoce.pl, we present the most important information. Of course, we will update the information in line with our experience, which will gradually become visible in this new year.

On January 31, 2020, Great Britain left the European Union. Now the end of the transitional period, during which the future relations between the EU and the UK are being negotiated, is coming in big traffic. So far, the shape and content of the contract have not been fully determined and there are many unknowns, but the government of Boris Johnson wants to conclude it later this year.


Great Britain's exit from the EU poses a significant threat to the Polish agri-food sector, as this country is the second, after Germany, recipient of Polish food. In the period from January 1 to August 2020, we exported agricultural and food products worth EUR 1.9 billion to the United Kingdom. We mainly sell meat, chocolate products, pastries, cigarettes, vegetables and processed fish.


- Despite the pandemic, Poland recorded a 6% increase in trade in agri-food products with Great Britain. We want it to stay that way. But how will it be? It is hard to predict at the moment. Negotiations are ongoing. We hope that an agreement between the EU and the UK will be concluded. A lot also depends on whether or not customs duties will be introduced - said Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ryszard Bartosik at a press conference organized in Warsaw.


Director Paweł Wyszyński from KOWR, who was present at the conference, pointed out that Brexit may cause disturbances on the internal EU market.


- If this happens, and the European Commission allows intervention measures, KOWR together with ARMA will take them. We are already prepared to implement such mechanisms - said Paweł Wyszyński from KOWR.


From 1 January 2021, when the transition period ends, there will be a significant difference in trade between EU countries and the United Kingdom. What will change? First of all, the UK will introduce new control rules and introduce border controls.


Plant products also represent an important export item to Great Britain. It is worth mentioning that over the last six years, the export of fruit and vegetable goods to Great Britain has increased significantly - we only ship apples there by 1/3 more. Great Britain is also a significant importer of our apple concentrate. Only in 2019, 260,000 from Poland reached the British market. tons of vegetables and fruits (mainly: apples, blueberries, cranberries, blueberries, juices, frozen foods, tomatoes, onions). Until now, the only document required was a passport. This will change significantly in the new year. Plants and plant products will be required to have a phytosanitary certificate and a notification submitted by the importer. They will also be subject to border controls.


- Fortunately, the new requirements will be introduced gradually. From January 1, a phytosanitary certificate will be required for live plants intended for planting, a certain category of seed, seed potatoes, consumer and industrial potatoes and used agricultural machinery - announced Andrzej Chodkowski, Chief Inspector of Plant Health and Seed Inspection.


From April 1, in the second stage of introducing new control rules, new regulations will cover a wider range of plants and products of plant origin. Then, the list of products that must have phytosanitary certificates, notification and control documents from the border will additionally include: vegetables, fruits or cut flowers.


- Currently, until April 1, both fruit and vegetables can be sold to Great Britain as it is now, under the old rules - explained Andrzej Chodkowski.


In turn, from July 1, almost all plants and plant products will be subject to the new requirements.


For now, the British has announced that it will not charge for phytosanitary inspections - these costs will not appear until April.


Conversely, when plant products are imported from the UK, Member States will require phytosanitary certificates and border inspection documents.


- Both the export and import of vegetables and fruit will require notification to the Provincial Commercial Quality Inspector, who will conduct an inspection on the basis of which a certificate of compliance or non-compliance will be issued - added Andrzej Romaniuk, Chief Commercial Quality Inspector of Agricultural and Food Products.


However, there will be no changes in the exchange of organic products. On the other hand, products with an EU Geographical Mark will no longer have EU protection.


The deputy minister of agriculture called on entrepreneurs to follow the websites of the ministry and its subordinate institutions, where information on the requirements for the import of agri-food products to the UK after January 1, 2021 will be posted on an ongoing basis.



Source 👉 https://www.warzywaiowoce.pl/articles/bazar-i-hurt/brexit-co-zmieni-sie-w-handlu-produktami-roslinnymi-po-1-stycznia/