20th April
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
Kent traffic management on M20 motorway to Dover and Eurotunnel Click Here
You no longer need a Kent Access Permit (KAP) to enter Kent
Check an HGV is ready to cross the border: translations Click Here
The translations for cross border drivers have been updated
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Bulgarian - Click Here
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Dutch - Click Here
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French - Click Here
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German - Click Here
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Polish - Click Here
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Romanian - Click Here
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Spanish - Click Here
NOTE: There is no Russian translation available
Haulier advice site locations Click Here
The current list of haulier advice sites has been updated along with the translations
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Bulgarian - Click Here
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Dutch - Click Here
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French - Click Here
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German - Click Here
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Polish - Click Here
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Romanian - Click Here
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Russian - Click Here
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Spanish - Click Here
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Welsh - Click Here
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
Click Here to return to Members Area
6th April
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
Apply for a grant to help small and medium-sized businesses new to importing or exporting Click Here
The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice, if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover.
You can use the grant for training on:
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How to complete customs declarations
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How to manage customs processes and use customs software and systems
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Specific import and export related aspects including VAT, excise and rules of origin
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is administering the grants for HMRC.
Applications will close on 30 June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated before this date, so we suggest that members who are interested apply as soon as possible.
To Apply: Click Here
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
Click Here to return to Members Area
31st March
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
SPS Borders and Boundaries GB-EU Exports & GB-NI movements
Introduction of Animal Health Regulations
There are changes to EU law from 21 April 2021 that will affect traders who move certain live animals, germinal products and products of animal origin to Northern Ireland, or who export them to the EU. All EU Export Health Certificates (EHCs) need to be updated to reflect the new rules, but this will be phased in between April and August 2021.
The EU is also introducing new rules for the export of composite products with new EHCs for composite products and new documentation for composite products exempt from export heath certification.
Including those for composites, a total of five new EHCs are needed from 21 April.
The Animal Health Regulations will apply in Northern Ireland. Traders moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will need to ensure that they meet the new requirements too.
Businesses on the Authorised Trader list moving goods from GB to NI will not be required to complete new composites EHCs or private attestations until the relevant phase of compliance comes into effect from 1 Oct 2021. Instead, their STAMNI (Scheme for Temporary Agri-food Movements to Northern Ireland) declarations will meet these requirements in the meantime, in line with the movement criteria. However, all goods moved by Authorised Traders from GB to NI must comply with the regulatory requirements for composite products.
All EU Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and Notes for Guidance are being updated to reflect the new rules by August 2021. Only those needed for use by traders from 21 April will be available from April, on EHC Online (EHCO), with the remainder uploaded and available by August 2021.
What does this mean for Traders from April 2021?
Certain composite products that currently do not need an EHC to be exported to the EU will now need one. Other composite products that are exempt from certification will require a new document, called a ‘private attestation’.
Traders can choose to use the existing composite product EHC, until August 2021, if under the current EU law, they need an EHC for export to the EU. Traders must use the new EHC if their product doesn’t currently require an EHC to be exported to the EU but will require an EHC from April under the new law. In that case, the option to use the old EHC is not available.
From 1 April, traders will be able to view the new EHCs, and the accompanying Notes for Guidance, on EHC Online. These include:
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Three new products of animal origin (POAO) EHCs
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Two new composite EHCs
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A private attestation document for composites exempt from certification.
Traders should familiarise themselves with the new EHCs and private attestation document to ensure they meet the new requirements.
The new regulations also introduce EHCs for certain live animal species and germinal product exports for which there is currently no EU EHC. The final legislation is yet to be published and we will make these certificates available at the earliest opportunity once they are finalised by the EU.
We will continue to keep businesses informed about the phasing of the new EHCs and will provide guidance and information so they can be prepared for these changes.
Help and Support
We are running a series of Q&A webinars with an expert panel to explain what these changes mean for those exporting to the EU or moving goods to NI.
The dates of webinars and links to register are set out in the table below followed by links to a further information, comprehensive set of FAQs and the Composite Products Decision Tree.
Title of webinar
Q&As for Traders
Description
Panel of experts from Defra will answer Traders’ questions on composite products
Who should attend?
Traders who export composites to EU and Northern Ireland
Dates available
Wednesday 7 April 10-11.30am - Click here to register
Thursday 8 April 1-2.30pm - Click here to register
Tuesday 13 April 12.30 -2.00pm - Click here to register
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The new composite EHCs and Notes for guidance will be available to view on form finder from 1 April 2021
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Further information about requirements for April 2021, new composite product rules and NI movements click here
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Frequently Asked Questions click here
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Composite Product Decision Tree – click here to help you determine whether your product is a composite or not.
Instructions for registering for the live Q&A sessions:
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Please choose the live Q&As webinar/s you wish to attend from the list above
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To join your chosen webinar/s, simply select the link in the ‘Register here’ column at your preferred time and date
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Once selected, you will be asked to confirm your name, email address, and organisation.
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This will register you for the webinar for the live Q&A with our expert panel
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Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email that will include a link to add the live Q&A webinar to your calendar
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You do not need to download any software to access the webinar, the link will open in your browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge etc.)
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Please join your chosen webinar/s 5 minutes prior to the start time.
Kind regards,
Trader Readiness Team | GB-NI Movements & GB-EU Exports Delivery Projects
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
Click Here to return to Members Area
2nd March
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
At last week’s FDF Industry Roundtable DEFRA staff gave a presentation on changes to the customs requirements using the Trade Support Service for movements into Northern Ireland. The presentation can be downloaded here along with a copy of a letter being sent to all Trader Support Services users.
Defra responses to questions on Export Health Certificates
Can we confirm the date and time that the certificates will switch over?
We are working on getting all the EHCs ready, but the EU Commission has not yet published all of them, and we will be prioritising accordingly.
What happens to goods that are in transit at this time?
The EU legislation allows for goods that are already in transit to be accepted for a period accompanied by the old i.e. current certs, if they meet all the requirements.
Will these changes apply to movement of goods from GB to NI?
Yes. The Animal Health Law (AHL) will apply to the movement of all relevant goods GB to NI after the end of the grace period.
Are the support attestations that will be needed publicly available?
The EU have published all of the certs for POAO that will be required for export: Click Here
Will the current exemption for food supplements considered to be composites from health checks at BCPs be reflected in UK legislation for food supplements coming into GB from the EU?
Response pending
Webinars – using Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed Systems (IPAFFS) Click Here
From 1st April 2021, there will be a further set of changes coming into effect on imports of products of animal origin (POAO) for human consumption.
These changes affect imports of food and drink containing animal products and further details are being provided as part of the existing SPS Borders & Boundaries Programme Trader Readiness Sessions Click Here
To support with accessing IPAFFS they will also hold a walkthrough of the IPAFFS Registration process Click Here
Department for International Trade (DIT) – tariff suspension further information:
In December last year, legislation was laid to implement the UK Global Tariff (UKGT). This included legislation implementing the UK’s independent duty suspensions regime.
The UK will be opening its first suspensions business application window around May 2021. In order to ensure that the suspensions application window is tailored to businesses,
DIT is conducting a stakeholder engagement exercise. The objective of this exercise is to gather views from interested stakeholders on what the new UK suspensions business application process should look like.
Feedback may result in DIT altering the process to ensure that it is fully suited to the needs of UK businesses and consumers.
DIT would be particularly interested to hear your views on:
Default length of suspensions under the UK suspensions regime? (EU suspensions are generally either 3 or 5 years in length)
Duty savings threshold under the UK suspensions regime? (amount that would be saved per annum if suspension applied – currently set at £10,000)
Business application cycle/process? (the EU has two application cycles per year but the process tends to take around 12 months from notification to implementation)
Any further thoughts
Please submit any views in writing to tariffsuspensions@trade.gov.uk. Alternatively, we would be happy to set up a 121 conversation; please also contact tariffsuspensions@trade.gov.uk to do so.
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
Click Here to return to Members Area
25th February
Grow your business through exports
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
The international trade secretary, Rt.Hon. Liz Truss MP has announced a new £2m “Open Doors” campaign to help get food producers exporting.
In her speech to the NFU Conference earlier this week: Click Here she said:
“Earlier this month, I virtually visited with my Board of Trade the Foyle Food Group, the largest single dedicated beef processor in the United Kingdom, which has spearheaded exports into the United States.
Their recent shipment from Northern Ireland marked the first time we have been able to export UK beef there for over 20 years.
Foyle now supplies high-quality British meat to leading retailers, restaurants and butchers across the world, from Japan to Canada.
Such deals support the jobs of Foyle’s 1,300 staff and the over 5,000 farmers it works with.
We want to unleash the potential of many more businesses, which is why we are today announcing the “Open Doors” export campaign for British food and drink.”
To read the full details of the support that you business can access: Click Here these include:
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Virtual Events: Agriculture, Food and Drink Events for UK Businesses Click Here Hear from and ask questions with experts and attend vertical buyer events.
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Internationalisation Fund now open for businesses in England Click Here Provides details of match funded grants of up to £9,000 from DIT to help your business get started.
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Find your local trade office Click Here Within each office there is now an international trade advisor.
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Selling online Click Here Cross-border e-commerce is the fastest-growing segment of international trade. DIT’s E-exporting Programme can help your business leverage international e-commerce opportunities.
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UK Export Finance Click Here If you’ve got a viable export opportunity, our Export Finance Managers can work with you to find the right trade finance or insurance
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
18th February
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
Webinars for importers of food and drink products from the EU to Great Britain Click Here
You’ll need to follow new rules on importing the following products from the EU to GB from 1st April 2021
Defra is hosting a series of free webinars in February and March to:
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Explain what actions you must take to continue to import these products from the EU into GB from 1 April 2021
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Help you find guidance on how to meet the new requirements
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Give you useful links to essential information
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Give you the opportunity to have your questions answered by Defra officials
For further information you can:
Importing - What you need to know about staged controls
There is a YouTube film on Importing: What you need to know about Staged Controls. To watch Click Here
Webinars and videos for organisations that trade with the EU Click Here
Webpage updated to link to 'Video explainers on 18 topics including importing and exporting, trade, data, and audit and accounting (BEIS)'.
Recordings of Webinars for exporters of products of animal origin, live animals, plants and plant products to the EU
Export POAO and live animals
The webinars for exporters of live animals and POAO will:
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Explain what actions you must take to export these products from GB to the EU
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Help you find guidance on how to meet new requirements
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Give you useful links to essential information
This webinar is for exporters of POAO from GB to the EU.
You can watch the video of the session on YouTube: Click Here
Composite goods
This webinar is for exporters of composite goods from GB to the EU.
You can watch the video of the session on YouTube: Click Here
Live animals or livestock
This webinar is for exporters of live animals from GB to the EU.
You can watch the video of the session on YouTube: Click Here
Export Health Certificate(EHC) and the online service
These webinars will cover:
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Why and when you need an EHC and how to get one
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How to register for the EHC online service
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A demonstration of the EHC service
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The role of a Certifying Officer
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Where you can get support and advice lines available
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How to apply for Phytosanitary certificate
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How you register and use eDomero
To view the webinars: Click Here
Rules of origin
This webinar is about tariffs and rules of origin for agri-food goods moving between the UK and EU.
You can watch the video of the session on YouTube: Click Here
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
5th February
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
We have just received 3 reports that have been written for DEFRA and the Department for International Trade by Promar International looking at the opportunities for food and drink exports to India, UAE and USA
The reports look at 5 main areas:
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To understand the food and drink sectors within the target markets, and given production within these markets as well as their current food and drink imports, to understand what could represent an opportunity for UK businesses looking to export into these markets.
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To obtain information on the food and drink sectors of these countries with regard to retail market size, market subsectors, company market shares, brand market shares, market growth opportunities, and consumer attitudes.
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To understand what acts as barriers to exporting UK food and drink products to these countries, with particular consideration given to commercial practices, regulatory frameworks and consumer preferences. Also, given the size of some of these markets, consideration will need to be given to how this can vary between different regions within these markets whilst also highlighting emerging and future trends in these markets.
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To understand and identify who the consumers of specific UK food and drink products are likely to be in a given market, with regards to geographical location, income group and other important demographic factors.
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To make the completed research reports available to policymakers and the wider industry. Given this, it is also important that the research provides details on the export opportunities available to small and medium-sized enterprises.
The reports are quite large and are in two parts, a Summary and the full report. These will be placed in the Export section of the AIMS website (this is in the Members Resources area) later today.
In the meantime, you may wish to down load your copies from the links below:
Technical Report India: Click Here
Technical Summary India: Click Here
Technical Report UAE: Click Here
Technical Summary UAE: Click Here
Technical Report USA: Click Here
Technical Summary: Click Here
Everyone at AIMS is here to support any members, please email if you have any questions.
MORE THAN EVER PLEASE STAY SAFE – STAY WELL
Click Here to return to Members Area
19th January
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
COVID-19 testing for HGV drivers using the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel Click Here
Hauliers now need a negative COVID-19 test result before travelling to France, Denmark and the Netherlands
The rules cover:
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HGV drivers or crew
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Vans or other light goods vehicle (LGV) drivers
International road haulage: HGV driver documents Click Here
Updated the section on coronavirus (COVID-19) testing to link through to a list of countries which require negative test results before you enter them Click Here
Moving goods through the Port of Holyhead Click Here (For Welsh Translation Click Here)
Information about transporting live animals under an ATA Carnet has been updated
If you are transporting live animals under an ATA Carnet, you will need to tell Border Force as this will help them to prioritise the processing of your ATA Carnet.
When your crossing is confirmed, you will need to let Border Force know when you expect to arrive at Road King Truckstop. Sat Nav: LL65 2YQ To see location on Google Maps: Click Here
You must do this at least 24 hours before you’re due to arrive.
Email Border Force at: BFHolyhead@HomeOffice.gov.uk
If you’re a UK trader transporting live animals you’ll need to lodge a travel plan with Defra before you start your journey.
Haulier advice site locations Click Here
Clacket Lane eastbound and Orwell Crossing Truck Stop are now offering COVID testing
To find your nearest haulier advice site and sites offering Covid testing: Click Here
For the current map showing all haulier advice sites: Click Here NOTE: The map now includes details of which sites offer COVID testing. Marked as Red dots
Haulier advice and site locations are available in the following languages:
Bulgarian - Click Here
Dutch - Click Here
French - Click Here
German - Click Here
Polish - Click Here
Romanian - Click Here
Russian - Click Here
Spanish - Click Here
Welsh - Click Here
The pre-lodgement model for controlling goods from the EU into Great Britain Click Here
The pre-lodgement model to control goods from the EU into Great Britain will come into operation from 1st July 2021 and maybe of interest to embers bringing frozen products into the UK
The policy paper Click Here out:
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How the pre-lodgement will work
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The steps that operators of a frontier location need to take to prepare for these changes
Help and support for UK transition Click Here
Click Here to return to Members Area
7th January
Export Update
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
Haulier advice site locations Click Here
7 more haulier advice and information sites are now offering COVID testing:
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Charnock Richard Services northbound
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Truck Haven (Carnforth)
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The Stockyard Truckstop Rotherham
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Woodall northbound
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Leicester Forest East northbound
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Beaconsfield
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Sutton Scotney northbound.
In addition, Rownhams northbound is now offering COVID-19 testing from 6am until 10pm
For the full up to list of all haulier advice sites including those with Covid Testing: Click Here
For a copy of the map showing all haulier advice sites (This doesn’t show which are also offering Covid-testing) Click Here
Trading with the UK: exporting animals and animal products to the UK Click Here
The UK Office of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Trade Assurance will co-ordinate SPS trade assurance in the UK to ensure trading partners meet import conditions for food and feed safety and standards and for animal health and welfare.
Different procedures may apply in Northern Ireland to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) because Northern Ireland is aligned with the EU through the Northern Ireland Protocol on SPS matters.
The Border Operating Model Click Here
The links concerning Rules of Origin have been updated
Click Here to return to Members Area
4th January
Export Update
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
COVID-19 testing for HGV drivers using the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel Click Here
Five more haulier advice sites are now open and offering free Covid-19 tests for drivers of HGVs, light goods vehicles and vans heading for the crossings into the EC.
REMINDER: HGV, light goods vehicles and van drivers heading to any port crossing to France must display proof of an authorised negative COVID test, conducted within 72 hours prior to travel.
This has been mandated by the UK and French governments
Haulier advice site locations Click Here
Eight new haulier advice sites are now offering Coronavirus testing:
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Heywood Distribution Truck Stop
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Thurrock Services
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Hartshead Moor (Huddersfield)
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Formula Services (Ellesmere Port)
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Sandbach Southbound
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Cherwell Valley
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Membury Eastbound
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Junction 38 Services on the M6 at Penrith
To find your nearest haulier advice and Covid testing sites: Click Here
For an up to date map of Haulier advice sites: Click Here
International road haulage: HGV and trailer documents Click Here
The web page details the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and trailer documents you need to legally cross international borders in a UK-registered vehicle.
This has been updated with a new section on using a vehicle security checklist to record the checks you do to stop people using your vehicle to enter the UK illegally: Click Here
DEFRA Helpline Number:
Exports of animal, animal products (where export health certificate needed) and imports of live animals
For Urgent in transit issues call: 0300 020 0301
The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Or email: defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk
Click Here to return to Members Area
3rd January
Transition Update
Please circulate this update to all relevant staff within your business.
AIMS objective is to help members who are exporting to avoid the ‘bumps in the road’ so we hope that this and other Brexit related updates are of use. Please contact us if there is a particular issue that you want us to help you with.
Government opens further COVID-19 testing locations for hauliers heading to France Click Here
10 new testing centres for HGV drivers open across country, with more to open over course of week, as Army is deployed to offer support
These new sites will open on Sunday 3rd January with further sites added during the coming week
The sites will be open from 6am to 10pm 7 days per week.
For a full list of the sites: Click Here
Additional support for haulage firms to establish their own testing centres at depots, with kits provided free of charge
HGVs using Dover and Eurotunnel will get fast-tracked past queues if they get tested before arriving in Kent
Hauliers urged to ensure all correct documentation, including Kent Access Permits Click Here, in order before arriving in Kent to ensure they can cross the channel
Haulier advice site locations Click Here
At the Department for Transport’s haulier advice sites HGV drivers can:
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Find out about the rules and documents needed to move goods between the UK and EU
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Complete a free border readiness check to ensure they have the correct documentation to cross the EU border
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Get help using the Check an HGV is ready to cross the border service: Click Here
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HGV drivers can also use the free live webchat function to complete a border readiness check between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week: Click Here
For a full list of Haulier advice site locations (Including those with Covid testing): Click Here
For a copy of the current map of Haulier advice site locations: Click Here
UPDATE 09:30 Sunday 3rd January Haulier advice site locations Click Here
5 more advice sites are now offering COVID-19 testing:
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Burtonwood
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Fleet southbound
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Hopwood Park
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Leicester Forest East southbound
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Rothwell Truck Stop
AIMS Update LIVE
AIMS will be holding a further EU Transition Zoom call on Wednesday 6th January 2021 at 9am. Details will be sent out tomorrow.
Click Here to return to Members Area
2nd January
With the UK no longer a member of the EU the Government have published 300+ guidance updates. We have worked through these to produce this update which covers those which are relevant to members.
Food and drink businesses: working with the EU Click Here
DEFRA have created a single portal showing what you need to do as a food and drink business to work with the EU. The page covers the following areas and provides links to Government information sources:-
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Food labelling - Click Here
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Importing and exporting - Click Here
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Marketing standards - Click Here
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Non-harmonised food products - Click Here
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Your employees - Click Here
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Data protection - Click Here
Export or move livestock and poultry Click Here
The APHA have published guidance that applies to businesses in Great Britain (GB) (England, Scotland and Wales) who are exporting or moving livestock (sheep, cattle, pigs and goats) or poultry to, or through:
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The EU
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Non-EU countries
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Northern Ireland (NI)
You need an export health certificate (EHC) to export livestock and poultry.
The guidance covers:
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General exporting rules - Click Here
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Register for the poultry health scheme - Click Here
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Quarantine rules for livestock and poultry - Click Here
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Export or move livestock or poultry to the EU or NI - Click Here
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Documents to transport livestock or poultry - Click Here
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Export to non-EU countries - Click Here
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Welfare standards for transporting livestock and poultry - Click Here
Importing or moving live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin Click Here
This guidance applies to businesses in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) importing or moving live animals, animal products and high risk food and feed not of animal origin from:
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The EU
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Northern Ireland (NI)
This is a joint DEFRA / APHA publication detailing the checks you need to make, the documents you need and how to notify the authorities for live animals, animal products and high risk food or feed not of animal origin. It covers the following:
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Check if your animal product import must come from an approved establishment - Click Here
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Check what documents you need - Click Here
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Importing ABP and products of animal origin (POAO) - Click Here
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Import live animals and germinal products - Click Here
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Import non-harmonized animals such as reptiles, amphibians (except salamanders) and invertebrates (except bees, molluscs and crustaceans) - Click Here
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Import from an EU country from 1 April 2021 - Click Here
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Import from an EU country from 1 July 2021 - Click Here
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Check if you need to notify APHA - Click Here
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When your consignment arrives - Click Here
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Documents to transport live animals from EU to GB - Click Here
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Documents to transport live animals from NI to GB - Click Here
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Transiting live animals through GB - Click Here
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Animal welfare when importing live animals - Click Here
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Imports from the EU to NI - Click Here
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Movements from NI to GB - Click Here
Using the UKNI marking Click Here
The Northern Ireland Protocol came into force on 1st January 2021. For as long as it is in force, Northern Ireland will align with all relevant EU rules relating to the placing on the market of manufactured goods. You must show that your products meet those rules by using ‘conformity markings.’
The UKNI marking is a new conformity marking for products placed on the market in Northern Ireland which have undergone mandatory third-party conformity assessment by a body based in the UK. This guidance explains how to use the UKNI marking (sometimes referred to as the UK(NI) mark or the UK(NI) indication).
This guidance from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy covers:
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Check whether you need to use the UKNI marking - Click Here
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When to use the UKNI marking - Click Here
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How to use the UKNI marking - Click Here
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Technical documentation Click Here
If you have any queries or require further assistance regarding the UKNI marking, please email: goodsregulation@beis.gov.uk
Protected geographical food and drink names: UK applications and consultations Click Here
DEFRA have produced a new portal to bring together all information in relation to Geographic Indication (GI).
This covers:
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Application requests - Click Here
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Applications: open consultations - Click Here
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Substantial change requests: open consultations - Click Here
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Cancellation requests: open consultations - Click Here
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Consultation decisions and how to appeal - Click Here
Farming businesses: working after Brexit transition Click Here
With some members having farming interests we felt that this new information portal from DEFRA will be of use to them. The site covers:
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Farm and rural payments: Basic Payment Scheme and Rural Development Programme for England - Click Here
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Importing and exporting - Click Here
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Marketing standards - Click Here
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Your employees - Click Here
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Food and drink labelling including organic produce - Click Here
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Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - Click Here
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Fertilisers - Click Here
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Pesticides regulations - Click Here
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Chemical regulations - Click Here
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Water regulations - Click Here
Click Here to return to Members Area
1st January
Export Update
A few links promised to members on various issues first:
Other things to note:
Defra helplines open Friday 1st to the close Sunday 3rd January 2021
Exports of animal, animal products (where export health certificate needed) and imports of live animals
For Urgent in transit issues
0300 020 0301
Open 8:30am to 5pm
Asking FSA to use your own vet
These are the questions you will be asked, so when you email your ITL to ask, supply this information straight away:
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Type of commodities you are looking to export to EU?
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Specific day(s)/hour in the week?
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Export direct from your plant to EU? Or through a cold store?
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Species and quantities?
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Boxed/exposed?
Some technical clarifications from Defra
1) Vets signing EHCs and SHAs
An Official Veterinarian (OV) must act within the remit of the Royal College of Surgeons Principles of Certification and the Official Controls Regulation (OCR) as retained within UK law. As indicated in the Notes for Guidance produced alongside each Export Health Certificate, an OV can place reliance upon health and ID marks for certain matters, but they cannot do so for all statements within a certificate. In other areas, direct personal knowledge of processes undertaken, or evidence from either the Food Business Operator or another suitably authorised individual will be required. Product that has already been produced and is due to be exported after January 1st is no different in this regard.
A Support Health Attestations (SHAs) is an optional document which can enable a vet to receive information regarding the animal health and traceability information associated with a product from another suitably authorised individual. This enables one suitably authorised individual at one premises to provide supporting information to aid certification to a certifying OV elsewhere. In no circumstance is the use of an SHA mandatory. The SHA template provided by Defra is for guidance purposes.
Ultimately it will be up to industry and OVs to set up efficient processes that can demonstrate audit trail and consistency in the certifying process.
The communications provided by Defra throughout has been very clear - that products of animal origin (POAO) that enter the EU from 1st Jan 2021 must be fully certified as a third country import.
2) Cleaning & disinfecting (C&D) of vehicles needing appropriate attestation
The EHC for meat of porcine, ovine, caprine and bovine origin contains an animal health attestation relating to cleansing and disinfecting of vehicles that states that “regarding meat obtained from animals which have been transported from their holdings in vehicles, cleansed and disinfected before loading, to an approved slaughterhouse without contact with other animals…”.
It is a statutory requirement in article 3 part 4 of the Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No 3) Order 2003 (as amended) and equivalent legislation in Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland that “No person shall use, or cause or permit the use of, any means of transport to transport any animal to which this regulation applies, unless it has been cleansed and disinfected in accordance with Schedule 2 since it was last used to transport any animal or anything which may give rise to the transmission of a disease affecting animals”.
We are in the process of updating the Notes for Guidance to more clearly reflect the fact that there is an existing legal obligation for C&D under domestic UK law which certifiers may choose to rely upon when completing the EHC, alongside other evidence.
The Notes For Guidance (NFG) for these EHCs will state that C&D for means of transport may be certified on the basis of compliance with the legal requirements of the Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No. 3) Order 2003 (as amended) and equivalent legislation in Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland.
General Licences for movement of livestock (under Disease Control Orders) contain the obligation of compliance with such C&D legal requirements as per link provided: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/general-licence-for-the-movement-of-pigs-sheep-and-goats
3) Surge capacity to support export health certification
Defra, APHA and Food Standards Agency have put in place a system to enable to the provision of surge capacity where resource allows. This will support specific shortages of certifiers that may arise in the short term.
Food Business Operators (FBO) contacting you regarding certification should be directed towards the Gov.uk page to Find a Certifier in the first instance. Any FBO contacting APHA via the details indicated on this page will be directed to private certification providers. It is via these providers that any Government resource, if available, will be deployed.
The FSA have written to FBOs separately on their ability to support certification with in-plant OVs and this process remains separate to that referenced above. However, if support was not available via this route, the APHA process could be engaged.
Latest update from Cabinet Office on the situation at the Borders
Dear Stakeholder,
As you are aware, the transition period came to an end at 11pm last night, with the UK leaving the European Union’s Customs Union and Single Market. New processes for goods crossing the border, as set out in the Border Operating Model, came into effect at that time. We are pleased to report that all the required systems and infrastructure are online and operating as envisaged; and that there have been no incidents of note in the first hours of operating the new border arrangements.
Traffic has, of course, been lighter than usual today and we expect that to continue over the weekend. We will remain vigilant in terms of levels of compliance with new requirements and would welcome early notification from all stakeholders of emerging issues. The Border Operations Centre is now up and running 24/7 and monitoring flow rates, compliance with new requirements, and Kent Access Permit issues, working hand in glove with Kent Resilience Forum and other key partners.
As flagged in yesterday’s weekly stakeholder bulletin, during the first half of January (4th to 15th) we will be inviting stakeholders to calls which will enable us to update on the live state of play at the border and take immediate feedback in terms of what you are seeing on the ground.
Covid-19 testing for HGV drivers using Dover or Eurotunnel
Reminder: the Department for Transport has published guidance for HGV drivers requiring a Covid-19 test before entering France. Guidance can be found here. We strongly recommend reviewing the guidance prior to making a journey as it may be subject to change/update. All HGV drivers should also have registered on the Check an HGV is ready to cross the Border service to apply for a Kent Access Permit. The driver could be stopped and fined up to £300 for entering Kent without having a Kent Access Permit, or for making false declarations when travelling to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel.
Current situation in neighbouring EU Member States including IT systems changes
Confirmation this morning that:
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France - SI Brexit is fully operational since midnight (CET) 31 Dec 2020, no problems identified.
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Spain - all IT systems working well and all necessary changes had been made in time. First GB - ES ferry not until 4 Jan 2021.
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The Netherlands - Portbase working well ditto IT changes made in time. Useful (new) link for help and advice https://nh.douane.nl/en/
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Belgium - Paper Less Douane Accises (PLDA) system is updated and there are no problems identified. RX Seaport also working fine for Port of Zeebrugge.
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Ireland - Customs RoRo Service and Automated Import Service (AIS) both working and updated.
Helplines
If you or your members / customers have enquiries, they should go to gov.uk/transition or they can use the following helpline numbers:
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HMRC Customs & International Trade Helpline - 0300 322 9434. Opening hours here.
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HMRC VAT / Imports and Exports General Enquiries - 0300 200 3700. Opening hours here.
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Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
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Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) - 0300 1000 313. Further details here.
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