BMPA express concern over the delay in setting post-Brexit Health and Identification Marks
With only 9 days left until Brexit, British meat processors do not have a stamp to use on their products that are to be shipped abroad after 29 March.
"We have been in personal contact with Michael Gove on behalf of the British Meat Industry to express concerns over the lack of progress made on post-Brexit Health and Identification Marks. If we leave the EU without a deal on 29 March, the EU Health Mark we currently use on all exported meat products will cease to be valid and will need replacing with a new, UK version that is recognised by both EU and other third countries", said BMPA in a statement.
At the beginning of the week, there was no consent between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Food Standards Agency (FSA) on what stamp is to be used for meat products exported after 29 March to the EU and other third countries.
The British meat industry representatives are also worried that there isn't enough time to produce these stamps until the end of the month.
"It is therefore likely that sufficient stamps will not be available should we leave without a deal on 29 March. It’s become evident that there is a lack of understanding amongst Defra officials of the finer technical implications surrounding Health Marks and of the unforeseen consequences of getting it wrong", complains the association.
Combined with the fact that the Chief Veterinary Officer could not inform trading partners of what Health and Identification Marks will be used post Brexit exports of meat from the UK are in danger until there is no certainty around whether goods shipped now will still be acceptable under whatever new system exists after Brexit.
"That will cause further confusion and disruption and reflect badly on the UK as a reliable trading partner. BMPA will be maintaining the pressure on Defra to resolve this as quickly as possible because every day this drags on now represents an erosion of trading power for our meat industry companies", it is said in the BMPA statement.
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