HMRC update regarding the Goods Vehicle Movement Service
HMRC is aware of a common issue when some traders and hauliers are using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) for transit movements coming into Great Britain. You should only enter the Transit Movement Reference Number (MRNs) into GVMS after the goods have been released into the transit procedure. GVMS asks if the movement has been released into transit so you should only tick ‘yes’ if it has. If the MRNs are entered into the GVMS before the goods have been released into the transit procedure, there will be no record to check that it is a valid MRN. This will delay your goods in reaching their destination because the process for checking will in effect block the Transit MRN, which means that you will need to make a new, separate Transit declaration. To contact HMRC with questions about this update and other general enquiries click here.
Minister Churchill delivers speech at Agri-Tech and Environmental Sustainability Conference 2022
Minister Churchill spoke about the potential for technology across the agri-food sector at the conference.
Bird flu – Latest situation: Chief Vet urges bird keepers to maintain scrupulous biosecurity standards as housing measures are lifted
The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss announced that mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across the United Kingdom to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted on Monday 2 May 2022. However, all bird keepers should maintain strict biosecurity measures until further notice to keep their birds safe from avian influenza.
Changes to Animal Health Regulation (AHR) Export Health Certificates (EHCs) from 29 April 2022
Since 15 January 2022 businesses have needed to use the AHR EHCs for goods exported from Great Britain to the EU or moved to Northern Ireland. The EU’s period of flexibility for the use of pre-Animal Health Regulation EHCs stops at the end of April 2022. EU Border Control posts will not be able to accept pre-AHR EHCs after this point. Please find more detailed guidance in this document.
Restrictions on promotions and advertising of HFSS food delayed for a year
The Department of Health and Social Care announced over the weekend that restrictions on multibuy deals and advertising foods high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) would be delayed for a year. This decision has been taken in light of unprecedented global economic situation and in order to give industry more time to prepare for the restrictions on advertising.
Rules limiting the location of unhealthy foods in shops will go ahead as planned in October.
FSA provides consumer guidance as more fully refined oils may be used as ingredient substitutions
The Food Standards Agency is advising consumers that some food products may now contain other refined or fully refined food grade vegetable oils, despite being labelled as containing sunflower oil. This update provides advice to consumers that fully refined palm oil, fully refined coconut oil and fully refined soybean oil are being used in some products without changes to the label being made.