Brexit hampers British meat exporters

The most likely cause is the administrative burden that British companies face when they want to export to countries in the European Union. The British newspaper The Guardian explain what steps entrepreneurs need to take to get meat from the United Kingdom into the European Union. They came to the conclusion that it requires no fewer than 26 actions. The result: high costs and uncertainty in logistics.

Exports are collapsing sharply
As a result, British meat exports have fallen sharply. The export value of exports was still £2020 million in February 113. In the same month this year, the value of meat exports amounted to just £66 million. A drop of almost 50%. This also means that exports recovered in February. In January, the value of meat exports was approximately 90% lower than in January 2020.

No checks on European exporters yet
Exports from the European Union to the United Kingdom show a much smaller decline. A possible cause is the fact that no certificates and inspections are currently required for European exporters. These were to be phased in over the period from April to June, but the country has not yet been able to complete the port adjustments required for these checks. Import controls are therefore only planned from January 2022, an advantage for European exporters. The British meat sector has already warned about the consequences of this uneven playing field.

Administrative and logistical problems for European (and Dutch) meat exports may therefore only arise later and have consequences for meat prices.

Huge hassle for that British exporters
Since January 1, it has been a long journey before a European importer is actually allowed to sell British meat. It starts with an application for an export health certificate from the British Ministry of Agriculture. This sends an inspector who must check each shipment and only after his approval can the necessary export certificates be signed. The shipment must then be registered in the European systems (for food safety) and with French customs, among other things. In the meantime, the required papers must be regularly shared with the parties involved. At the French border, one fifth of all meat shipments are also checked by French food safety authorities.

This is a simplified representation of the steps, because in total there are no fewer than 26 actions that need to be taken to get the meat into the European Union. Even if everything seems to be correct, a shipment can be delayed or even refused due to errors in the application procedure. With all its consequences for perishable goods. The administrative actions are associated with high costs, and then there is the uncertainty as to whether everything is in order. This means that British meat becomes less popular with European buyers and greatly reduces export figures.