1/ By chance I stumbled across European Commission’s “Notice to Stakeholders - Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU Food Law” 🍔 🥕 🥩 - PDF here ec.europa.eu/food/sites/foo…
2/ This document is similar to one about road transport 🚗 🚛 🚌 that I blogged about here: jonworth.eu/uk-remain-eu-e… Formally written, but horrible in its complexity when you think of it. Welcome to the consequences of #Brexit!
3/ It starts with an overview of 🇪🇺 Food Law - Regulation 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, 609/2013 on food intended for infants, 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed... It goes on and on. 📑 📑 📑
4/ "EU legislation on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, and on honey" - Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey
(OJ L 10, 12.1.2002, p. 47) You get the idea. 🥃 🍯 🐝
(OJ L 10, 12.1.2002, p. 47) You get the idea. 🥃 🍯 🐝
5/ Then we come to the part about what is going to have to happen, post-Brexit. "Food business operators are advised to assess the need for possible changes to the labelling of food placed on the EU-27 market as of the withdrawal date." ⏰ Oh. What was that about transition?
6/ "Mandatory health or identification marks (...) As of the withdrawal date the health mark or the identification mark shall no longer include the "EC" abbreviation which is
reserved for establishments located in the EU". 🕰 Standstill transition?
reserved for establishments located in the EU". 🕰 Standstill transition?
7/ "in some instances the food business operators, authorisation holders, or their representatives have to be established in EU (...) 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed, the applicant for an EU authorisation or his representative shall be established in the EU." ⏲
8/ "in some instances EU authorisations require the
submission of an authorisation dossier through the competent authority of an EU Member State (...) As of the withdrawal date, applications through the competent authority of the United Kingdom are no longer possible." 🤔
submission of an authorisation dossier through the competent authority of an EU Member State (...) As of the withdrawal date, applications through the competent authority of the United Kingdom are no longer possible." 🤔
9/ Food of animal origin 🐖 🐑 🐄 is on Page 6. And yes, you guessed it, non-EU countries are treated differently on - for example - their residue control plans.
10/ And what about 🇬🇧 🥩 🚛 ➡️ 🇪🇺? "these substantial requirements are controlled upon entry into the EU-27 by applying mandatory border checks at the first point of entry into the Union territory" Oh like at the Irish land border I hear you say...? 😬
11/ "Unlike for food of animal origin, the importation of food of non-animal origin is not subject to listing requirements of third countries and establishments." 😅
12/ But... "With the exception of sprouts, where a specific regime applies (see Regulation (EU) 210/2013)" I'm waiting for the Daily Express story on Hard Brexit wrecking the traditional 🇬🇧 🎄 dinner!
13/ The paper finishes by covering tubers of species of Solanum L., food treated with ionising radiation, and recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. ☢️
14/ Now bear in mind *some* of this little lot might be postponed by 21 months thanks to the transition period. But even so, is 🇬🇧 going to be remotely ready for all of this?
15/ After all May's government can't work out a position on the Customs Union, let alone its position on tubers of species of Solanum L. But that's the joy of Brexit, ladies and gentlemen! Take back control of your meat residue control plan FTW! 🐷 /ends
/12.5 Turns out I made an error here - it’s bean sprouts 🌱 and not Brussels sprouts - see this discussion:
Phew. I’m relieved. Chrismas dinners saved!
Phew. I’m relieved. Chrismas dinners saved!
