Exporting Meat, Dairy and Composite Food to Europe

 

Effective 1st January 2021 exporting Meat, Dairy and Composite foods into the EU from the UK, the exporter may require an Export Health Certificate (EHC). The EHC is obtained from United Kingdom Government;

 

You may also require to have Veterinary and Phytosanitary certificates for your goods  / composite Foods to exit the UK and enter the EU including Northern Ireland at the correct border control point (BCP).

 

Cool cargo can offer VET services for those who require assistance via our VET agents.

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Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control after Brexit

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Cool Cargo UK has taken the decision not to suspend the carriage of products of animal origin or plants from Great Britain (GB) to the European Union (EU) for more information on access to the EU link here.

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However, the European Union (EU) restrictions will apply from 1 January 2021, therefore we ask our customers to check on the specific restrictions that apply to your shipments. All responsibility and liability to ensure compliance with Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulations lies with you the shipper, and it is your responsibility to make sure that your shipments have all the proper accompanying paperwork/authorisations and that the correct categorisations have been made for your shipment. 

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As a general guide, Veterinary and Phytosanitary regulations will apply to animals, products of animal origin, plants, and plant-based products. Therefore, if sending these products, in order to ensure compliance with the regulatory authorities requirements, please follow the guidance below:

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1.    For your Veterinary and Phytosanitary shipments that require special Veterinary and Phytosanitary control formalities (such as authorisation & import/export license requirements) under the Veterinary and Phytosanitary regulations, please ensure that you have the proper paperwork and authorisations. This paperwork must be provided to Cool Cargo UK together with your shipments, so it can be handed over to Regulatory Authorities at their request in the European Union (EU).
   
2.    For your Veterinary and Phytosanitary shipments that do NOT require special Veterinary and Phytosanitary control formalities (i.e. no authorisation, no import/export license requirements), please provide Cool Cargo UK with confirmation via our Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control – Customer Statement Form. This form needs to be attached to each Veterinary and Phytosanitary shipment that does not require special Veterinary and Phytosanitary control formalities.

 

It is Not Free Trade as we know it, despite the press coverage of our joyous British Government’s conclusion of a deal. Customs declarations will be required from 1 January 2021 for shipments between Great Britain and the European Union (and vice-versa). Although the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement refers to 'zero tariffs' (zero customs duties), this doesn't replace the need to generate a customs declaration and so a commercial or Pro-forma invoice is required. The trade deal only applies to customs duties, meaning that in most cases customs duties will not be applied to goods fulfilling all necessary "rules of origin" requirements, however, VAT will still be levied. Customs declarations are therefore required for goods to clear the border as the UK will have left the single market and the customs union. Country-specific restrictions will still be in place and any associated licenses will also be required.

 

What does this mean for your export or import business?

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1. You will need to declare additional information for all chilled/frozen goods being shipped between the UK and European Union.

2. Every item will need to be declared accurately.

3. Compliance is key and you are responsible for the information you provide to customs.

4. You will be required to retain records for all goods moved for 6 years customs.

 

We at Cool Cargo have been working hard to prepare and are in a good position to respond to the changes that are coming with the UK leaving the EU, we are here to help you prepare for your chilled/frozen export or imports. Cool Cargo can make export customs declarations on your behalf, authorisation by you may be required for either exports or imports, therefore if you haven't already done so please contact our customer services.

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Rules of Origin Requirements: In order to benefit from the EU-UK Trade Agreement 'zero tariff' (zero customs duties), it's essential that you provide evidence of the country of origin in the commercial or pro-forma invoice for both B2B and B2C shipments – please do this using the statement below for UK or EU goods fulfilling the relevant rules of origin requirements. Without the statement, it will not be possible for Cool Cargo to claim the duty relief, and it may not be possible for Cool Cargo UK to amend the documentation post-clearance without additional charges, if at all.

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Exporter Reference No (EORI):-

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The Exporter Reference No. is required for all UK to EU shipments (this reference is your GB EORI number). For shipments from the EU to the UK, the Exporter Reference No. (this reference is your REX number) is only required where the value of the shipment exceeds 6,000 EUR / £5,700.

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So, what do I need to do to export to the EU?

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From 1st January 2020. you will be required to provide a commercial invoice, Pro-forma (electronically) that should include all the relevant export data re your product to enter the EU. 

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What will happen if no information is provided at all re the export?

 

Your goods will not be able to be despatched or exported until customs information has been provided and customs have cleared the shipment allowing it to leave the UK and enter the EU.

 

EU or UK Border Control may decide to check your shipment which may also incur fines increasing your costs. To minimise any delays Cool Cargo will perform a number of checks to ensure you have provided all relevant information prior to the dispatch.

 

What information do I need to export to the EU?

 

What information do I need on my invoice to Export to the EU? Cool Cargo has a checklist for you to check against that be required to arrange your export of chilled or frozen goods from the UK to the EU.

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Copy of EU Export Commercial Invoice Template.

 

• UK Shipper Full Details

• UK registered EORI number

 

• Full Receiver Details in the EU

• Receivers Registered EU EORI number                                         

• Export licenses for any goods that require one                             

• Commercial Invoice to include the following

• Customs Procedure Code

• Goods Description

• Commodity Code

• Goods Value

• Quantity

• Weight

• Country of Origin

• Licence where applicable

• Reason for Export

• Incoterms

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Use full Links for Exporting to the EU.

•  UK Trade Tariff
•  UK Global External Tariff
•  UK Tool for Exports
•  EU EORI Validator
•  Sanctions and embargoes
•  Export Control Organisation: SPIRE
•  Market Access Database
•  Customs Procedure Codes
•  Customs Information Papers
 

Export chilled and frozen delivery service to Europe from the United Kingdom to the following EU destinations: Austria, Italy, Belgium, Latvia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Croatia, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Malta, Czech Rep., Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, Portugal, Finland, Romania, France, Slovakia, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and Effta.

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List of countries in the EU Schengen area:-

• Austria

• Belgium

• Czechia

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• Greece

• Hungary

• Iceland

• Italy

• Latvia

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• Netherlands

• Norway

• Poland

• Portugal

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Spain

• Sweden

• Switzerland

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IMPORTANT:

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•    Cool Cargo UK is not responsible for verifying if your product requires an EHC or requires Veterinary and Phytosanitary Documentation.
   
•    It is therefore important that your company product experts conduct the due diligence based on the regulatory requirements, to qualify if the products fall under the regulation (or not).
   
•    This is solely your responsibility and all liability for such lies with you as the shipper.
   
•    In case of non-compliance with the relevant rules, your shipment may be seized by the Regulatory Authorities and appropriate measures may be taken (maybe destroyed following the decision by the relevant authorities) or shipments may have to be returned by Cool Cargo UK back to origin due to missing paperwork/authorisation as an additional cost.
   
•    Your shipment is subject at all times to the terms and conditions of the Cool Cargo UK, a copy is available upon request.

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Please note that the process outlined above might be adjusted in the future depending on any agreement reached as part of the Brexit negotiations or other subsequent regulatory changes.

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Cool Cargo UK does foresee an impact in costs related to Veterinary and Phytosanitary controls, which may impact shipping costs in 2021. If it becomes necessary to make any changes to our existing charges, we will advise our customers and provide appropriate details in advance.

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It is recommended that any small Veterinary and Phytosanitary shipments are sent on our MUST RIDE Air service rather than on the road network

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For additional information, please find the European Union (EU) links below:

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•    European Commission information regarding the new EU Plant Health Rules

    
•    European Commission information regarding the Legislation on Official Controls

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