THE UK has secured an approval to continue exporting animals and animal products to EU if it leaves without a Brexit deal on October 31.
The latest approval has provided a certainty to the market, which is worth over £5 billion a year.
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers confirmed on Monday (14) that the EU member states have granted the UK ‘national listed status’.
The status ensures that the export of live animals and products of animal origin, such as meat, fish and dairy, can continue.
The EU’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed confirmed the acceptance of the UK’s listed status on Friday (11) after it met the health and biosecurity assurances required for a third country.
With listed status now confirmed, if Britain leaves without a deal, businesses exporting animals and animal products to the EU will still need to meet new requirements, such as going through the correct EU Border Inspection Post.
The decision will also allow the continued movement of equines between the UK and the EU.
British Horseracing Authority Executive Director Will Lambe said: “This is very welcome news for our sector, and provides some important certainty ahead of a October 31 departure from the EU. There will still be additional requirements for our participants wishing to travel a horse into the EU, but full guidance and assistance is available…”
Villiers said: “…our top priority remains delivering Brexit by the end of October, and our preference is to do that with a negotiated deal, but it is the job of a responsible government to ensure we are ready to leave without a deal and without any further pointless delay…”
If Britain leaves with a deal, the UK will not need to be listed during the implementation period.
