The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) has announced changes to the process for returning consignments rejected at EU Border Control Posts (BCPs).
Under the current process, exporters must notify the APHA if they intend to return consignments rejected at EU Border Control Posts (BCPs). The APHA then requests a risk assessment from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) or APHA, depending on the product and its origin. If approved, the goods are authorised to return directly to their place of origin without passing through a BCP. Once there, they must be inspected by the relevant authority before they can be re-exported or placed on the domestic market.
The updated process outlines that from Monday 20 April, goods rejected at an EU BCP will follow the same process as those rejected in non-EU countries. Before departing the EU BCP, the goods must be pre-notified on the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS). The IPAFFS notification must be completed by the operator responsible for the consignment in Great Britain, not an agent in the EU. Failing to pre-notify on IPAFFS, or failing to present re-imported consignments to the designated BCP, are both offences under Regulation 39 of the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011.
Port Health Authorities or Inland Authorities, depending on where the goods are seized, are the enforcement authorities responsible for applying these measures. The formal response that may be taken in response to offences will vary depending on the public and animal health risk.