New data for agricultural, animal origin products, fishery, and bottled water exports


Tuesday, July 28, 2020


Technical details on products’ transactions between the European Union and the UK after the top of the transition period for Brexit, from January 2021, were included within the policy text, recently issued by British Government.

According to information from the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Greek Embassy in London, this document states that for the import into Britain of some of EU origin products are going to be required some certificate. Plants and agricultural products

As about plants and agricultural products, from January, 1st 2021 import announcement are going to be required (by the importer) and phytosanitary certificate for all high risk plants and agricultural products to be imported into the UK by the EU (e.g. all plants for planting, potatoes, some seeds).

In addition, from April 1st 2021, are going to be required import announcement and phytosanitary certificate for; bulbous and tuberous vegetables, some common fruits preserved in deep freeze, leafy vegetables and preserved in deep freeze potatoes from specific countries.

Products and by-products of animal origin.

From April 1st 2021, will be required import announcement and phytosanitary certificate for all products and by-products of animal origin, imported into the UK by the EU. Where available, will be used the existing model of health certificate.

From July 1st 2021, products and by-products of animal origin from the EU, will be imported into the UK, through a Border Control Post – BCP, where will take place physical and identity controls.

Fishery products

From January, 1st 2021, import announcement and health certificate will be required (by the importer) for fishes and shellfish products, imported into the UK by the EU as living animals. From April 1st 2021, will be required import announcement and health certificate for all for fishes and shellfish products to be imported as products of animal origin, additionally to living animals.

From July 1st 2021, all fishes and shellfish products from the EU will be imported into the UK, through a Border Control Post – BCP, where will occur physical and identity controls.

Bottled water

Bottled water of EU origin won’t be subject to specific border control requirements, and won’t require inspection by the Border Control Post – BCP. However, documentary, or physical checks can be carried out at any stage of importation, as is the case of all products.

Especially, natural mineral waters will only be labeled as such, within the UK market, as soon as they provide relevant recognition by British Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs.

Spyros Pistikos

Source: FoodReporter issue #0324 21/07/2020