Securing an EU-UK Veterinary Agreement
Questions relating to trade in animal products attract far greater attention than their economic value would suggest. Concerns about human and animal health, the ability of countries to produce their own safe and cost-effective food, and fair competition among others mean Import checks are typically more onerous and tariffs higher. In the case of UK trade relations this has meant concern about reduced exports to the EU or increased imports of lower quality from the US, a potential shortage of vets, and interest in whether a UK-EU veterinary agreement could help.
Witnesses were asked at this meeting about the UK’s experiences of trade in animal products since January, and how this could be improved. This covered the UK’s trade with the EU and globally, as well as movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The interaction between potential EU veterinary agreement and US trade agreement was a particular subject of focus.
Sir Roger Gale MP chaired this session.
Witnesses
James Russell, President, British Veterinary Association (BVA)
Gary McFarlane, Director, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) in Northern Ireland
Gail Soutar, Chief EU Exit and International Trade Adviser, National Farmers' Union (NFU) of England and Wales
Richard Griffiths, Chief Executive, British Poultry Council (BPC)
INTRODUCTION
Upon leaving the EU single market at the end of 2020, UK food exports became subject to the extensive EU rulebook for the import of such goods from third countries. Products of animal origin are subject to particularly stringent tests, reflecting the higher risk they pose to health. This rulebook is based on the need to safeguard the movement of goods within the EU, although all countries impose rules on food imports to a degree.
A third country may be added to the list of non-EU countries authorised for the introduction of meat products into the EU, under a Commission Decision which lays down lists of non-EU countries, territories or parts thereof authorised for the introduction into the European Union of certain meat products and the veterinary certification requirements. A non-EU country must be listed in that Decision before exporting meat products into the EU.
This Decision contains details of any animal health requirements, the treating requirements for their manufacture and the appropriate veterinary certificate models which are required to ensure that meat products can be introduced safely into the EU. Such veterinary certificates must accompany all consignments of meat products entering the EU.
In the UK it is the Animal and Plant Health Agency which is responsible for issuing Export Health Certificates to meet EU requirements. Their processes are significantly paper-based. Qualified veterinary surgeons inspect, stamp and sign printed forms for all products of animal origin leaving UK shores.
ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
INSPECTION, CERTIFICATION & CAPACITY:
• The current GB export certification system currently relies on a small pool of official veterinarians and environmental health certifying officers to inspect and sign off all products of animal origin leaving GB ports. This should be expanded.
ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION & ADMINISTRATIVE STREAMLINING:
• APHA, the issuing authority for Export Health Certificates (EHCs), are struggling to keep up with demand. A recent Freedom of Information request from a UK newspaper revealed that Animal and Plant Health Agency were only processing 250 EHCs a day. If trade with the EU is to get back to normal levels, that number should be closer to 1000 EHCs per day.
STANDARDS & VETERINARY AGREEMENT:
• Since 1 January, the UK has continued to follow EU standards, yet faces complex certifying and checking procedures to prove it. An agreement that UK and EU standards are equivalent or aligned, could remove or reduce the certification and implementation issues outlined above.
KEY QUOTES
"At the moment in our sector we estimate that the additional cost per lorry load is around £750 to £1000. And when you consider that we alone as the poultry meat industry export up to 400 loads a week, that’s an awful lot of money that is having to be found, money and resources, so digitalisation is the first step but it’s absolutely crucial. My concern is as we look ahead I’m not confident that we have the political engagement and the political will to find lasting solutions for this, because we can’t go on firefighting as we have been. Because it’s just not sustainable. Whether with the numbers, the vacancies, the lack of resources - it’s simply not sustainable.” Richard Griffiths, Chief Executive, British Poultry Council (BPC)
"The UK Government must continue to engage constructively with the EU on securing a way that we can reduce as much as possible the friction that is in place between our trading nations. I don’t necessarily want to get hung up on whether that’s a New Zealand-style veterinary agreement, a Swiss-style model - we are in a bespoke situation. We are the closest major market for the EU. It’s in both sides' interests to try and get a very bespoke, robust agreement that seeks to minimise as much friction as possible.” Gail Soutar, Chief EU Exit and International Trade Adviser, National Farmers' Union (NFU) of England and Wales
"The Government has repeatedly stated that it will not compromise on our food standards and on health protection, but it has, it has to be said, thus far singularly and spectacularly failed to legislate for that." Gary McFarlane, Director, Chartered Institute for Environmental Health Northern Ireland,
“Just looking at products of animal origin, we were something like 13,500% up on this time last year, having completed roughly 121,000 certificates, and our best estimate was that that is 116 years of time to complete those certificates. So I think that gives a bit of a flavour for the ask that we’re making of these people.” James Russell, President of the British Veterinary Association