The export of vegetables from the EU to the United Kingdom will imply, from January, a phyto-sanitary certificate, documentary checks and identity checks, while the import of vegetable seeds from Britain is prohibited, the Portuguese DGAV (Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary) said today.
In the first phase, between January 1, 2021 and March 31, EU "high-priority" vegetables and plant products must have a phyto-sanitary certificate, a pre-notification to the authority in Great Britain, to be sent by the importer in England, Scotland or Wales, documentary checks and identity and physical checks to be carried out at the destination of the goods. At this stage, products with “high priority” are considered planting plants, potatoes, used agricultural or forestry machines, some wood products and certain plant or forest reproductive materials.
In turn, in the second phase, which runs from April 1st to June 30th, all plants and plant products imported into England, Scotland or Wales from the EU have to be accompanied by phyto-sanitary certificates, the competent authorities they have to be pre-notified by the importer, and documentary checks and identity and physical checks are again imposed at the place of destination of “high priority” vegetables and products. Vegetable roots and tubers, fruits, cut flowers and some seeds, plants for planting, leafy vegetables, potatoes and used agricultural or forestry machines are considered priorities. Still at this stage, fruits such as kiwi, pineapples, coconut, persimmons, banana, mango, passion fruit, guava and dates are exempt from phyto-sanitary certificates.
This exemption also applies to curry and citrus fruits (fruits and leaves).
In the third phase, starting on July 1, “the number of physical and identity checks on vegetables and plant products, wood, wood products and insulated bark will increase. These controls will then be carried out at border control posts ”, explained DGAV. Conversely, as of January, the import of high-risk plants, vegetables, plant products and seeds of agricultural and horticultural species from Britain into the EU is banned. High-risk plants include acacia, acer, albizia, birch, ficus carica, malus, populus, robinia, salix, sorbus and ulmus.
As of January 1, 2021, all wooden packaging handled between Britain and the EU must comply with the ISPM 15 standard (subject to heat treatment and marking). All products entering Northern Ireland from outside the EU will have to undergo the same controls as goods entering a Member State from outside the EU, while all products leaving Northern Ireland for Great Britain Britain or to a third country will be subject to the same procedures as exports from Member States. Finally, goods produced and traded in Northern Ireland will have to meet EU standards.