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NEW: EU sources insist that rules that mean smoked kipper producers in the Isle of Man must use "plastic ice pillow" when sending to UK, as made famous by Boris Johnson, are BRITISH rules and not Brussels' rules. 1/
This is a national competence. The EU does not regulate sales of smoked fish to consumer, only sale of fish from business to business. The Isle of Man example is outside scope of EU food safety rules.
2/
2/
I am told smoked kippers to individual customers through the post is "entirely a UK" matter.
Here is the British government advice on the matter
food.gov.uk/business-guida…
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Here is the British government advice on the matter
food.gov.uk/business-guida…
3/
4. "All foods must be delivered to consumers in a way that ensures they dont become unsafe or unfit to eat. Foods that need refrigerating must be kept cool while they are being transported.This may need to be packed in an insulated box with a coolant gel or in a cool bag"
4
4
The EU has broad rules saying that food should be safe but nothing asking for the ice pillow.
That is a British addition designed to stop Listeria,
a prob w/ smoked products and, I hear, is actually a good rule.
5
That is a British addition designed to stop Listeria,
a prob w/ smoked products and, I hear, is actually a good rule.
5
In fact the EU only regulates for temperatures on fresh fish and not smoked.
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6/
So to sum up. There are no EU food safety rules on smoked fish which mean a smoked kipper salesman needs to stick an ice pillow in his fish when he pops it in the post.
But there are British food safety rules that do.
7
But there are British food safety rules that do.
7
So Boris got it wrong when he used the kipper as an example of EU red tape Brexit Britain could escape from. 
European Commission spokeswoman has now confirmed the story on record.
"Our priority in the EU is the health of our citizens as well as safeguarding our standards in terms of public health and food safety - the highest in the world.
"Our priority in the EU is the health of our citizens as well as safeguarding our standards in terms of public health and food safety - the highest in the world.
"While the food business operator has an obligation to meet the microbiological requirements to ensure the safety of its food, however the sale of products from the food business operator to the final consumer is not covered by EU legislation on food hygiene."
"The case described by Mr Johnson falls thus purely under UK national competence. "
And here is video from the commission midday briefing confirming earlier tweets.
Fact that Isle of Man is crown dependency and not part of UK or EU is example of how a producer in one market needs to meet standards in a territory he imports to. Which is v relevant for British exporters to EU after Brexit
EU's Health Commissioner is unimpressed with Boris.
UK Food Standards Agency confirms:
“In the UK, smoked kippers that are sold online must be kept to an acceptable temperature throughout transit. Businesses must ensure the materials used to do so are suitable for the food and the conditions of use.”
“In the UK, smoked kippers that are sold online must be kept to an acceptable temperature throughout transit. Businesses must ensure the materials used to do so are suitable for the food and the conditions of use.”
"National politicians who promote misinformation about 'Brussels' for their own interests deserve to get caught out," says Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit Coordinator.
As #kippergate is now trending in the UK, I am going to call it a night.
ENDS
ENDS
But did just see this.
