Sanitary and Phytosanitary checks on goods to and from the EU have been plagued with issues since their introduction. The IPAFFS system has failed on number of occasions, goods have been subject to stuck AVLS locks as port health authorities fail to release cargo. On the import side alone, there are huge and ever increasing fees for traders, inconsistent application of regulations by Vetinary Officers, questionable rejections due to minor discrepencies on Export Health Certificates (even when corrected) and a sense of disregard for traders by local authorities who run Border Control Posts. These checks have been for naught as BCPs have little credible evidence to show their inspections have an impact on public health, or are for the greater good of the country.
As of mid-2027, these issues will be resolved as the requirement for Export Health Certificates and Phytosanitary certificates are removed for EU goods both for UK exporters and UK importers moving food, drink, plant and agricultural goods across the border. Breathing life back into export and imports with our largest trading partner.
More details are still being working out by the UK Government and the EU along with a final date for this new agreement to go live, however there is finally a positive change coming to international trade that businesses can look forward to. Hopefully one that encourages a further (and permanent) reduction in trade barriers with the EU.
