SCHOOL EDITION 22 MARCH 2023 - Flipbook - Page 11
NEWS
New processes for
movement of hay and
straw from GB to NI
F
OLLOWING the end of the EU-UK transition
period on December 31, new rules now apply
when importing consignments of hay and straw
from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, the Department
of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has
advised.
Under the requirements of the Northern Ireland
Protocol, and associated UK legislation, Northern
Ireland remains within the EU Single Market and
regulatory zone for animal health, plant health and for
some aspects of public health protection.
This requires documentary, identity and physical
checks to be carried out on relevant goods as they
enter NI from GB.
Outlining the new rules for moving consignments of
hay and straw from GB to NI, which came into force
on January 1, a DAERA spokesperson said: “From 1
January, before moving hay or straw from GB to NI the
person responsible for the consignment must:
n Be registered on TRACES NT (the EU’s Trade
Control and Expert System);
n At least 24 hours before entering NI, create a
Common Health Entry Document for Products of
Animal Origin (CHED P) on TRACES NT. This will prenotify DAERA of the arrival of the consignment;
n When completing the CHED P, input CN code 1214
90 90 for hay and CN code 1213 00 00 for straw: and;
n Familiarise themselves with the conditions
attached to the general import licence for hay and
straw;
n A guidance note setting out each of these steps and
links to further information is available on the DAERA
website at www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/moving-hayand-straw-gb
“The website also contains information about other
rule changes following EU Exit and provides guidance
to assist business and individuals through these
changes.”
You can also receive free notication of any new
information or guidance by signing up to the DAERA
EU Exit text alert service. Subscription is easy, simply
text DAERAEUExitNews to 67300.
FARMWEEK
JANUARY 28 2021
11
Gardeners facing a
spring of disarray
H
ILLMOUNT Garden Centre
owner
Robin
Mercer,
pictured left, is calling
on the government to
provide assistance to the
horticultural sector as gardeners
face a spring of disarray due to the
current situation surrounding the
transportation of plants, garden
furniture, gardening equipment
and tools from GB and other parts
of the world.
Speaking
about
the
dire
consequences for gardeners, Mr
Mercer said: “For 80 years we
have supported local suppliers
and growers but the reality
is that around 50 per cent of
our stock comes from outside
Northern Ireland as we just don’t
manufacture the goods or grow
the plants here to meet customer
demand.
“We have been quoted £12,000
for a container from China which
would have previously cost £1,200
and although we can source
plants from Holland or the
Republic of Ireland, the fact is
that the quality of product that
customers of Hillmount expect
come from plants grown in Great
Britain.
“We have written to our elected
representatives to appeal to them
to see sense and support our
industry as spring approaches
otherwise families up and down
the country will not be able to
enjoy their gardens and benet
their mental health to the same
extent that they did last year.
“As I try to juggle furloughed staff,
an Eat Out To Help Out inspection,
the red tape involved with trying
to ship goods from China and the
challenges with Customs around
sourcing plants from GB, I fear
for our fourth generation familyrun garden centre business. Like
many others we’re on the brink of
collapse through no fault of our
own.”
Fortuitously the Mercer family
placed orders for garden furniture,
seeds and seed potatoes ahead
of time at the end of last year as
they were fearful of the difculties
that lay ahead but now they are
faced with having to absorb the
costs of storing these items during
lockdown.
Robin added: “We have even been
told that the pallets the goods
are travelling on even requires
certication. The whole thing is
ridiculous.
“We have been ordering the same
plants, bird food and gardening
tools for years and almost
overnight a wooden handled
trowel cannot be delivered to us.
“Roses can’t be shipped due
to how they are grown. Yet one
supplier in GB is saying they can
ship our order to Europe and drive
it to us via the Republic. Where is
the sense in that?”
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