HM Government Admin1

Q23. What about all those businesses that have invested in employing and training staff specifically to meet these SPS requirements on 1 October 2021? We have members that have opened branch/satellite offices specifically to meet this demand. Should some type of compensation not be made available to maintain these newly trained (and now redundant) employees until the requirement is actually here? Legitimate business is once again been penalized for the failings of others. There is absolutely no merit in preparing for these new deadlines as the expectation is that the dates will move again and keep moving. This is going to prove extremely problematic when controls are again deemed necessary to protect Revenue or if there is a sudden security requirement. A phased approach is essential – the planned 1st January 2022 Big Bang will be challenging enough without adding these additional levels of complexity. A. Since leaving the EU’s single Market and Customs Union businesses and citizens have adapted to new processes and requirements. Thanks to the hard work of traders and hauliers, we did not see anything like the generalised disruption at our ports which many predicted on 1 January. However, Businesses have faced a range of challenges over recent months as they recover from the global pandemic which has impacted supply chains across Europe. This is being felt particularly by the agri-food sector, where new requirements on importing products of animal origin were due to be introduced from next month. In recognition of this, rather than introduce new import controls at this time the Government has listened to those who have called for a new approach to give businesses more time to adjust.The time spent in preparation for those import requirements is not wasted. The pre-notification requirements will come in from 1st January 2022 for all regulated commodities. Those requirements in respect of animals and animal products pre-notifications between January and July, are designed to be simple and can be completed in less than 2 minutes for each consignment.

Q22. Can you confirm if pre-notification of HRFNAO exported into EU and then exported to GB will similarly move from Oct to Jan 2022? Also, will low risk plants and plant products requirement for physical checks move from March 2022 to July 2022? A. Physical checks on regulated plants and plant products will take place at BCPs from 1 July 2022, rather than 01 March 2022. The requirements for pre-notification of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 January 2022.

Q21. Will IPAFFS be working as of 1 Jan? A. The functionality to facilitate pre-notification of POAO and HRFNAO is currently live. Traders are able to familiarise themselves with this in the training environment on the link here = https://importnotification-pretr.azure.defra.cloud/notification/pre/protected/notifications

Q20. Please confirm that the pre-notification of POAO from 1. January will not require an electronic EHC upload as well? A. No - provision of an EHC will not be required until 01 July 2022.

Q19. Will the development of Control Points continue with a view to coming online for 1July 2022? A. Yes - Control Points will, like BCPs, be operational from 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022.

Q18. Is there any update on DEFRA funding grants? A. The PHA readiness team have recently been in contact with Bristol and all PHAs regarding DEFRAs continued intention to fun their staffing. If any PHAs continue to have any isolated concerns they are advised to contact their PHA engagement lead directly.

Q17. The Port Infrastructure Fund assessment process was very clear on certain deadlines needing to be met (aligned to original timescales) - with two rounds of date changes, those that still need new infrastructure but weren't successful through the process due to not being able to meet original deadlines have been disadvantaged. What further fund / grant support is planned? A. We fully appreciate that many in the border industry including ports and businesses have been investing time and energy to be ready on time, and some will have been on schedule to have met the original deadline. However, we needed to listen to businesses who have have faced a range of challenges over recent months as they recover from the global pandemic which has impacted supply chains across Europe. This is being felt particularly by the agri-food sector. Rather than introduce these controls at this time, the government has listened to those who have called for a new approach to give businesses more time to adjust. Unfortunately there are no plans for further government funding / grant support at this moment in time.

Q16. Has the EU been informed and do they have any reaction? A. This was a unilateral decision taken by the UK Government.

Q15. Has the Commission itself requested some leeway/flexibility on the start date for import certificates based on some MSs not having current capacity? A. This was a unilateral decision taken by the UK Government. Businesses have faced a range of challenges over recent months as they recover from the global pandemic which has impacted supply chains across Europe. This is being felt particularly by the agri-food sector, where new requirements on importing products of animal origin were due to be introduced from next month. Rather than introduce these controls at this time, the government has listened to those who have called for a new approach to give businesses more time to adjust.

Q14. Doesn't this put our exporters at a disadvantage compared to importers? A. Since leaving the EU’s single Market and Customs Union businesses and citizens have adapted to new processes and requirements. Thanks to the hard work of traders and hauliers, we did not see anything like the generalised disruption at our ports which many predicted on 1 January. However, businesses have faced a range of challenges over recent months as they recover from the global pandemic which has impacted supply chains across Europe. This is being felt particularly by the agri-food sector, where new requirements on importing products of animal origin were due to be introduced from next month. In recognition of this, rather than introduce new import controls at this time the Government has listened to those who have called for a new approach to give businesses more time to adjust.