Latest news with #BTOM
RTÉ News
13 hours ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Britain cancels extra border checks for animals ahead of UK-EU deal
Britain is suspending the previously planned introduction of extra border checks on live animal imports from the European Union to ease trade ahead of the implementation of a deal agreed in May to reduce friction, the UK government said today. Extra border checks on some animal and plant goods imported from Ireland will also be suspended. May's sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal, part of a wider reset in UK-EU relations, will reduce paperwork and remove routine border checks on plant and animal products moving between the UK and EU, while maintaining high food standards. However, the deal is yet to be implemented as details are still being negotiated. In the meantime, British traders must continue to comply with the terms of the UK's Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) that protect the UK's biosecurity, including existing checks. The suspension of the introduction of additional border checks follows the announcement in June that checks on EU fruit and vegetable imports had been scrapped. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs could not give a timeline for implementation of the SPS deal. When Britain left the EU's single market in 2021, the EU immediately enforced its rules, leading to port delays and prompting some British exporters to stop selling to the bloc. Britain was much slower implementing its post-Brexit border arrangements, and after repeated delays and confusion it started to set new rules in phases from January last year.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Plans to relaunch Rosyth-Europe ferry sail a little closer
However, as previously reported by the Dunfermline Press, one of the sticking points has been the use of a Border Control Post (BCP). It is hoped the one at Grangemouth can be used as a new one at Rosyth is considered to be prohibitively costly and unnecessary. Dunfermline MP Graeme Downie has this week said that a solution appears to have been found which could allow things to progress. He said the recent agreement between the UK Government and the EU will mean no BCP will be required at all in the future, however an interim solution is required that would allow the temporary use of BCP Grangemouth if the Rosyth-Dunkirk schedule is to start in Spring 2026. READ MORE: The use of remote BCPs has been authorised in England with sanitary and phytosanitary goods arriving at the Port of Dover for checks being directed to the Sevington BCP, over 20 miles away. The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, has now written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs along with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales outlining how a ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk could proceed without a specific Border Control Point at Rosyth. In his letter to Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, he said: 'I would like to propose that we urgently seek to agree that an amendment to the BTOM is made, as a transitional measure to allow the use of remote BCPs, within a short radius of the port of arrival." While it is the Scottish Government who must amend the regulation to allow the use of a remote BCP at Grangemouth, this can only be exercised with a cross-GB consensus which Mr Downie is now working with the Scotland Office to secure. 'A regular passenger and freight ferry service from Rosyth to Dunkirk would be an incredible boon for the Dunfermline and Scottish economy, making trade easier as well as making it simpler for people from Europe to visit the Kingdom of Fife," he said. 'These matters can be complex but we have taken a huge stride towards making this ferry service a reality. 'I want to thank the Secretary of State for Scotland and his officials for their work and assistance in finding a way to ensure a BCP is not required at Rosyth. Their efforts make it more likely a passenger and freight ferry to Dunkirk could begin as soon as next year. 'We are not quite there yet and, in particular, a small amount of infrastructure is needed at the Port of Rosyth. "However, as the ferry is one of the projects in the strategy of the Forth Green Freeport I am hopeful we can overcome this problem as well. 'I have spoken to both Forth Ports and the Green Freeport about this issue in the past and hope to meet with them very soon to discuss how speedy progress could be made in time for the ferry to begin next year.' Superfast Ferries first launched a ferry service from Rosyth in 2002 and it was later taken over by Norfolkline. It stopped carrying passengers in 2010, when it became freight-only, and DFDS became the third operator of the route. They reached the end of the line shortly after a fire on board the Finlandia Seaways ship in April 2018. In January last year, the proposals to re-start the service – it had been hoped they could have started in May this year – were put on hold after ferry operator DFDS stated that date was "no longer feasible" and "no further progress can be made" due to a lack of financial support.
STV News
6 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Is the ferry connecting Scotland to mainland Europe about to return?
Plans to reinstate a ferry link between Scotland and mainland Europe have moved a step closer with a solution to a key border control obstacle now in sight. Danish operator DFDS is aiming to launch a service between Rosyth, Fife, and Dunkirk, France, as early as spring 2026, carrying both passengers and freight. The route could handle around 51,000 passengers a year initially, rising to 79,000, and bring an estimated £11.5m annual boost to the Scottish economy. One of the main barriers has been the need for a Border Control Post (BCP) at Rosyth to process certain goods, particularly agrifood products. Building a new facility was deemed prohibitively expensive and unnecessary, with DFDS instead proposing to use the existing BCP at Grangemouth. The UK–EU deal agreed earlier this year will eventually remove the requirement for BCPs altogether, but an interim arrangement is needed if the ferry is to start before the rules change. In England, similar 'remote BCP' arrangements already allow sanitary and phytosanitary goods arriving at Dover to be checked over 20 miles away at Sevington. Scotland secretary Ian Murray has written to Steve Reed, the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs along with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales outlining how a ferry service between Rosyth and Dunkirk could proceed without a specific Border Control Point at Rosyth. In his letter, Murray said: 'I would like to propose that we urgently seek to agree that an amendment to the BTOM is made, as a transitional measure to allow the use of remote BCPs, within a short radius of the port of arrival…' While it is the Scottish Government who must amend the regulation to allow the use of a remote BCP at Grangemouth, this can only be exercised with a cross-GB consensus. Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie, who has been working to resolve the issue, said: 'A regular passenger and freight ferry service from Rosyth to Dunkirk would be an incredible boon for the Dunfermline and Scottish economy, making trade easier as well as making it simpler for people from Europe to visit the Kingdom of Fife. 'These matters can be complex but we have taken a huge stride towards making this ferry service a reality. 'I want to thank the secretary of state for Scotland and his officials for their work and assistance in finding a way to ensure a BCP is not required at Rosyth. Their efforts make it more likely a passenger and freight ferry to Dunkirk could begin as soon as next year. 'We are not quite there yet and, in particular, a small amount of infrastructure is needed at the Port of Rosyth. However, as the ferry is one of the projects in the strategy of the Forth Green Freeport I am hopeful we can overcome this problem as well. 'I have spoken to both Forth Ports and the Green Freeport about this issue in the past and hope to meet with them very soon to discuss how speedy progress could be made in time for the ferry to begin next year.' The project also has the backing of major Fife employers, including Amazon and seafood company Mowi, and could remove 8.2 million kilometres of freight traffic from UK roads each year, cutting carbon emissions. The link would replace the previous service between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in Belgium. The passenger service ended in 2010 before becoming freight-only, and was ultimately axed in 2018 after a fire aboard one vessel made the route uneconomical. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK scraps border checks on EU fruit and vegetable imports
The UK government is to remove border checks for fruit and vegetable imports from the EU ahead of a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) deal between the two markets. Last month, the UK and the EU signalled plans for a new SPS agreement as part of a broader, new trading relationship. While the details of the SPS agreement are still being negotiated, the UK government said post-Brexit border checks on 'medium-risk' fruit and vegetables – including items such as tomatoes, grapes, plums and peppers – imported from the EU will not be enforced as planned from next month. The easing of checks has now been extended from 1 July 2025 to 31 January 2027. UK trade association Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) welcomed the move and said it spares the industry from '700,000 consignments annually subject to UK SPS border controls and avoids an eye-watering £200m ($270.2m) in added costs'. The UK said under the prospective SPS deal with the EU eliminating routine checks on food imports and exports is expected to lower costs and ease pressure on food prices. The move forms part of London's efforts to 'cut excessive red tape' and reduce fees for traders engaged in exporting to and importing from the bloc, it added. According to the government, the changes are intended to 'strengthen' supply chains and reduce costs for both businesses and consumers. UK Biosecurity Minister Baroness Hayman said: 'This government's EU deal will make food cheaper, slash bureaucracy and remove cumbersome border controls for businesses.' Traders are required to continue following the UK's Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) until the SPS deal comes into force, the government said, adding that "risk-based surveillance" will continue to handle the biosecurity risks. FPC chief executive Nigel Jenney added: 'This is a unique and sector-specific exemption, and one we've fought long and hard to achieve. 'We're proud to have secured a common-sense solution that protects our diverse and critical industry – from supermarket supply chains to the thousands of SMEs in wholesale and foodservice.' "UK scraps border checks on EU fruit and vegetable imports" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
