The Food and Drink Wales Industry Board exists to support the food and drink industry in Wales. Our role as a Board has become especially important during the unprecedented challenges brought about by the Covid-19 crisis and local restrictions alongside the growing pains we will inevitably experience with the end of the EU Transition on the horizon.

With this in mind, it is our aim to always bring the industry concise, relevant, and up-to-date information to keep you well informed about the latest developments impacting the industry.

As we move closer to January 2021, it has never been more important for businesses in Wales to prepare and understand the impact of the EU Transition on the industry. There is no doubt the industry has been greatly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and so it is vital businesses check and recheck their strategies – whether that is diversifying supply chains, having an increased online presence, or introducing new ways of enhancing the customer experience, as we prepare for another season of change.

We are also in the process of looking at different future webinar themes and have shared a poll on Twitter. We’d love to hear from you on what you’d like to see from us – a few initial ideas include EU Transition support and guidance, exporting advice and green sustainability for the industry. Get in touch with us via Twitter or please get in touch with me directly, Chair.FDWIB@gov.wales, to share what you’d like to see covered in our webinar series.

As a Board, we understand and recognise the extreme difficulties and frustrations left by the coronavirus and as we enter a new relationship with the EU. However, we would urge the industry to use the signposted links to support below and join us at future webinars to help plan and prepare for the changes we will experience in the future.

Andy Richardson, Chair of the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board

Latest on Covid-19 and EU transition for food and drink businesses

• The Board and Welsh Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Priorities Plan

• Economic Resilience Fund Checker

• Future planning for Coronavirus in Wales

• Food and Drink Wales: Business Wales – Support to help run your business

• Get SMART. Keep Wales Safe at Work.

• NHS Covid-19 app: Register your business

• HSE Covid-19 updates for your business

• Covid-19 guidance for hospitality businesses and new rules

• Covid-19: Hospitality and retail FAQs

• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes and Future Fund extended

• COVID-19: UK Government package of measures to support businesses

• £140 million to support Welsh businesses

• Free bilingual Open/Closed door signs for your business

• Preparing Wales for EU Transition

• Business Wales Brexit Portal

• Welsh Government: EU Transition Portal

• EU Transition: Food and Drink industry support

• Consultation: Front-of-pack nutrition labelling in the UK

• Vulnerabilities of Supply Chains Post-Brexit

• HMRC guidance for business who are brand new to customs

• EU Settlement Scheme

Top news stories of the week

• National Curry Week with Eat Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef

• MDA Innovation Business Network Event – November 4^th

• Harry Cooks Up Third Place in Young National Chef of the Year Final

• Wales Real Food & Farming Conference goes virtual in November

• Welsh Lamb Meat Quality Project

• Cardigan distillery owners named top food and drink entrepreneurs in Wales

• Welsh beef boost as USA opens for business

• Welsh products taste fruity success at major food awards

• Wales to open £2m sustainable food packaging hub

• One of Cardiff's best-known Italian restaurants is trying to raise money so it can reopen for the first time since lockdown

• Welsh businesses urged to join app to help customers reduce single use

• Work continues to grow Welsh lamb exports as trade shows go virtual

• North Wales gin maker pours effort into home deliveries to survive lockdown

• The couple who opened a coffee shop on Wales' 'worst high street' - during a pandemic

• Germ phobia versus green intentions: attitudes to sustainable packaging in Covid

• Brexit: What UK tariffs policy could mean for food prices

Recent key actions from the Board

• The Board received an update on the Retail Plan from the Welsh Government Food and Drink division which outlines the plan to support food producers to realise the opportunities and challenges both currently and imminently facing food and drink producers in the retail market.

• We are in the process of interviewing new Board Members following our recruitment campaign to include a broader representation on the Board from different sectors and areas of expertise.

• The Food and Drink Wales Skills Committee is reviewing the skills plan and priorities with reference to Covid-19 and Brexit and will present back to the Board in the coming weeks.

• We continue to promote the interests of Welsh food and drink businesses with Welsh Government and with Westminster on non-devolved issues as we approach the end of the EU Transition.

• We have continued to share links to information, support and toolkits via Twitter and LinkedIn as well as supporting with social media toolkits.

EU Transition: What you need to know – Preparing to export goods from Great Britain to the EU from 1 January 2021

As part of our new EU Transition guidance feature in our newsletter, this week, we are highlighting what food and drink businesses, producers and suppliers should know about exporting after 1 January 2021.

In this issue’s export discussion, we will touch on the key steps businesses must take when exporting products of animal origin from Great Britain to the EU.

Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI)

• An EORI code is a unique identification code required by all businesses that move goods between the UK and the EU. The EORI code is also used to track and register customs information in the EU.

• From January 1^st, 2021, all EORI codes must start with the letters ‘GB’ followed by a 12-digit number. If your business already has an EORI number, check for the letters ‘GB’ at the beginning, if the letters aren’t there, you will need to apply for a new one: https://www.gov.uk/eori

• It can take up to five working days to receive a valid EORI number.

• If you do not get an EORI code, you may have increased costs and delays. Customs authorities will more than likely take possession of the consignment until your business is able to display an EORI number.

Approved Establishment/Premises List

• If you want to trade with the EU, then individual establishments that dispatch, prepare or provide animals and/or animals products need to be on the EU Approve Establishment List.

• Businesses that operate from a UK approved establishment and that export animal products to the EU, will need to be listed.

• If you are not listed and you think you should be, then you must notify the Food Standards Agency asap or by the beginning of December 2020. Email eulistings@food.gov.uk and your business will be added to the list.

• From January 2021, the process to get onto the EU Approved Establishment List will take 30 working days.

• Additional info, can be found here: food.gov.uk

Health and Identification Marks

• Health and identification marks must be applied to food products of animal origin to confirm they have been inspected and are fit for human consumption.

• Identification and Health Marks prefixes used to label UK products of animal origin must include the official two-digit ISO Code (‘GB’) or the full country name in capital letters (‘UNITED KINGDOM’).

• Products produced in the UK carrying the GB identification mark can be placed on the UK, EU and non-EU markets.

• For more guidance and information, visit:  https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/guidance-on-health-and-identification-marks-that-applies-from-1-january-2021

Labels and Marketing Standards

• We touched on this in our last newsletter, but to recap, food labelling rules will change as of January 1^st, 2021. Labels will need to include:
  • Origin of the food product
  • The name or business name and address of who is responsible for the product in the EU
  • Health and/or identification marks – either the ISO two-letter code where the establishment is located and the approval number of the establishment
  • Any other mandatory information relating to farming methods and marketing standards.

• For more info on marketing standards, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/labelling-and-marketing-standards-from-1-january-2021?step-by-step-nav=1faad9b3-e5ef-47f6-a3ba-4715e7e4f263

Border Control Posts (BCPs)

• BCPs are designated and approved inspection posts at an EU border that carry out checks on animals and animal products arriving from third countries.

• To export goods from the UK to the EU, you must enter through a border control post – the list of BCPs can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/vet-border-control/bip-contacts_en

Export Health Certificates

• An Export Health Certificate is an official document confirming your goods meet the health requirements of the EU.

• A Certificate is required for each animal or animal product you export and so it is needed for every product before leaving your premise and must be approved by a certified officer before you can export your goods to the EU.

• To apply for an EU Export Health Certificate, visit www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-export-health-certificate

• For guidance on Export Health Certificates, be sure to take a look at www.gov.uk/export-health-certificates

EU-Based Importer

• The importer in the EU receiving your goods will have their goods checked at a BCP. In doing so, the exporter must send a copy of the Export Health Certificate to the Import Agent who then must submit the BCP pre-notification of the goods. A customs declaration must also be completed.

Transportation

• While the responsibility for customs border checks rests with the traders, the hauler must ensure the driver is given the necessary documentation so they can be carried in the vehicle for the duration of  the journey and ensure the driver is informed of their inspection points.

• Additional transportation requirements including getting the right operator license: https://www.gov.uk/being-a-goods-vehicle-operator/types-of-licence#standard-international-licence

Customs Declarations and Tariffs

• From January 1^st 2021, exporters will have to submit export customs declarations for all goods and submit safety and security information

• Goods require a commodity code – use the UK Trade Tarff tool to find the correct commodity code https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff

• From January 1^st, exporters can charge customers VAT at 0% as on most goods exported to the EU. For more additional detail on tariffs, visit https://bit.ly/33LP5Cl

For more information on exporting goods to the EU from Great Britain, visit GOV.UK. Also be sure to take a look at Business Wales’ Brexit Portal for up-to-date information for Wales.

Stay connected for updates on Twitter and LinkedIn. Join our Facebook Group to collaborate workforce. Get in touch with us via email at Chair.FDWIB@gov.wales