A Spotlight On: DEFRA's Risk Categories for EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Imports
Strong & Herd LLP
Supporting international business! We provide practical training in the areas of export, import and customs procedures.
Defra has published the initial draft Target Operating Model (TOM) risk-categorisation for the imports of animals, animal products, plants and plant products of EU & EFTA origin (excluding Norway and Iceland for plants and plant products).
The risk categorisation sets out the proposed controls that will apply to these imports when they cross the border into Great Britain from 31st October, 2023, as detailed in the draft TOM published on April 5th, 2023.
?The TOM broadly describes the SPS categories of high, medium and low risk.?The published categorisation affords further detail of how the new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regime will be applied to working practice.?
For animals and animal products, the categorisation is derived from a scientific assessment of each commodity's biosecurity and food safety risk, weighted against the disease and pest risk of the country of origin.
An equivalent process is in place for plants and plant products to categorise commodities according to biosecurity risk. The categorisation is designed to be dynamic to enable a response to changing risks.?
There are some specific commodity groups (i.e., dairy, composites, and fruit and vegetables) where further risk assessment is ongoing.
These have been placed in the 'low’ TOM risk category from October 2023, pending further risk assessments.?Any other change to the risk assessment criteria is intended to be communicated to traders well in advance of any subsequent changes to commodity categorisation.
The EU member states will be treated as a single EU epidemiological entity; therefore, all imports from the EU countries will have SPS controls applied consistently.
If your business imports food products, live animals, animal products, plants or plant products from the EU into GB, it will be essential to check the TOM risk level of your commodities for import now to be ready for upcoming changes to border processes.
The TOM is committed to streamlining the format and content of the Export Health Certificates (EHCs) for Animals and Animal Products imported to GB. The new GB model certificates do not change the requirements for importing animal and animal products into GB. The GB EHCs will be shorter and more logical in their format than the existing GB EHCs.
The new GB EHCs for Products of Animal Origin (POAO) and several Animal By-Products (ABP) have been published on gov.uk here:?Model health certificates for exports of live animals and animal products to Great Britain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The remaining APB EHCs will follow by mid-May 2023. All high and medium-risk POAO and ABP imported into GB from EU/EEA countries will need to use the new GB EHCs from 31st October, 2023. New model EHCs for live animals and germinal products will be published in the summer.
Strong & Herd are offering importers and exporters the facility to engage directly with the S&H team in a series of in-depth food and SPS focussed courses that will follow the new legislation into implementation.
The IPAFFS course will enable traders, agents, and brokers to understand the complex IPAFFS completion requirements for importing SPS goods.
Food Import and Food Export courses will support the cross-border regulatory requirements for all food sectors and products.
All courses offer an in-depth practical approach to importing and exporting SPS products, suitable for any importer, whether agent, broker or individual at any skill level.?S&H aim to fully prepare course delegates for the new and upcoming changes to the SPS border requirements when the Target Operating Model is implemented into legislation.
Importing Products of Animal and Plant Origin, an overview of IPAFFS and What it Means for Your?Business?Wednesday, May 31st
Following the recent publication of the draft Border Target Operating Model, we look at IPAFFS and what it could mean for your business. During this live session, we will walk you through the world of IPAFFS (Import of products, animals, food and feed systems), from why it is used to facilitate the import of Products of animal origin and high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin to registering for the service itself and using IPAFFFS to complete an import declaration.
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We will look at the differences between the EU TRACES system and the UK IPAFFS system and provide you with further Guidance and useful links to the various Government bodies involved in importing POAO and HRFNAO.
Concluded with Q&A.
Focus On: IPAFFS?Thursday, June 28th
IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed Systems) is a web-based service for applying for Common Health Entry Documents (CHEDs) for imports into the UK. Applicable to live animals, POAO, HRFNAO and composite goods, understanding how to use this system is vital for many business sectors. Join us in reviewing how to access IPAFFS, complete an IPAFFS notification and process the import.
Focus on Food: Import Procedures?Wednesday, June 14th
Importing food, drink, plant health products, POAO and composite goods into the UK requires an awareness of the phytosanitary and pre-registration requirements. This half-day session will focus on what a trader needs to know to bring goods through customs and port health and meet other government department regulations, e.g., DEFRA. It will also demonstrate the pre-notification process on IPAFFS.
Focus on Food: Export Procedures?Friday, June 2nd
This course has been created to meet the growing demand for specialist training in export processes that apply to food and drink products. It explains the regulatory bodies involved, what they do and what they need from a food/drink exporter. It will help you understand the labelling and registration of products and where to obtain further information.
Focus on Food: Tariff Classification?Tuesday, June 20th
Designed for anyone involved in classifying food products, whether for Imports or Exports. This one-day workshop has been introduced to meet the growing demand for specialist training in the Tariff Classification of food products in chapters 1-24 of the Integrated tariff of the UK that apply to importing Food and drink products.
Focus on: Port Health and Trusted Trader Scheme?Tuesday, July 4th
This session will focus on the role of public health inspectors in evaluating activities in and around air/seaports. Critical in controlling the spread of foodborne diseases, vector control and human contamination, the rules can still prove puzzling to importers. The aim is that delegates will leave this session with a clearer understanding of the procedures and practical tips for when goods are selected for port health inspection.
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With thanks to Lucille R. & Gail Leeson for this month's Spotlight On.