Business, Freight News

New food import rules come into force

[ December 2, 2019   //   Chris ]

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says it will implement EU Smarter rules for safer food (SRSF) regulations from 11pm on Friday 13 December. The package will modernise, simplify and improve existing health and safety standards for the agri-food chain and take a risk-based approach to animal, plant and public health protection, introducing more efficient pest and disease control measures.

The changes include an improved IT system TRACES (NT) to log imports from beyond the EU and new look import forms for animal and animal by products businesses: For plant, seed and timber imports, there will be a large increase in the number of plant passports required as well as changes to the content and format of plant passport applications forms for businesses.

The new regulations will apply to the UK in all Brexit scenarios, says Defra. If the UK were to leave the EU without a deal, the regulations will be retained by the Withdrawal Act and will continue to apply subject to any amendments Parliament may agree.

Tags: Defra