A pricing regime has been agreed in Highland for the provision of Export Health Certificates which will be required by UK businesses from 1 January 2021 to export products of animal origin to the EU.
Chair of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee Cllr Allan Henderson welcomed the work carried out to date by Council officers in supporting exporting businesses to the EU, he said:
"The Environmental Health Team has a very important role in providing certification for Highland businesses exporting animal products to the EU. Highland Council estimates that around 11,000 Export Health Certificates will be requested from businesses within the Council area to its Environmental Health Team who are the certifying officers.
"I thank our Environmental Health Team for all their hard work so far in their preparations for the EU exit which has been carried out while the Team was also responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Councillors greatly appreciate this and acknowledge the huge task ahead for them."
Following a review of local authority export health certificate fees, Members of The Highland Council's Communities and Place Committee have agreed revised fees for their provision in Highland to enable fair recovery of administration costs to the Council.
The basic charge of a standard export certificate will be £42.00 (previously £70.00) with variations on small and large batches and specific additional charges - where required - for travel, research, translation, correction and providing additional copies. Full details of the new charging details will be made available on the Council’s website at www.highland.gov.uk and from envhealth@highland.gov.uk .
Cllr Henderson added: “Members have noted the need to respond quickly to trade developments, government funding and demand for this service and have therefore agreed delegated authority to the senior Executive Chief Officer - Communities and Place to enable her to set or revise the fees and to report back to committee in 2021."
An Export Health Certificate confirms that exported goods meet the food safety requirements of the destination country. Certificates must be signed by either an Environmental Health Officer, a Food Safety Officer, or a certified Veterinarian and are subject to the supplier having passed an inspection of their premises and for full compliance within the export supply chain, under which fishing vessels are also now being inspected.
Alan Yates, Environmental Health Manger said: “Anyone planning to export fish, shellfish, and crustaceans to the EU after 1 January 2021 are encouraged to view the GOV.UK website and become familiar with all relevant APHA requirements. This also applies to other animal products like meat and dairy. Crucially they must ensure they are registered for the APHA online export health certification portal. If you own or operate a fishing vessel with your home port in Highland in order for your catch to be able to be exported to the EU after 1 January 2021 you will need to register your vessel with Highland Council - please refer to the Council’s website www.highland.gov.uk for further information. Please contact environmental health if you have any queries on exporting to the EU and don’t delay in getting ready.”
Further information on exports, including how to register to the APHA online export health certification portal, is available via the GOV.UK website www.gov.uk/guidance/get-an-export-health-certificate.