In this week’s cross-border trading corner, the most recent Trader Support Service bulletin is available as is the latest Brexit and Beyond newsletter from the Northern Ireland Assembly EU Affairs team. The hot weather in France has resulted in the closure of the Calais Border Control Post (BCP) for movements of live animals which you can read more about below. The minutes and slides from the latest meeting of the HMRC Stakeholder Forum, the Joint Customs Consultative Committee, which the Institute participates in, are available. Following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation and the proposed timeline for selecting his successor, the next UK-EU Summit, which was due to take place next month on 22 July, has been postponed. In the meantime, the Government and the EU continue to discuss options for this to take place at the next earliest opportunity. And finally, ahead of changes taking effect from 1 July 2026 for movements of steel into Northern Ireland, the Government has sent an email setting out details of a letter which has been sent to traders advising them of the upcoming changes.
Closure of Calais BCP
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs were informed last week of the closure of the Calais BCP until further notice due to high temperatures. While it is unlikely that exports of horses are taking place in these conditions, this closure also applies to other consignments requiring live animal controls, including commodities such as day-old chicks. Similar notifications had not been received from other border control posts, however traders are advised to check directly with the BCP of entry before dispatching consignments of live animals.
According to the Government, the Hook of Holland BCP may be a suitable alternative for consignments as it remains open. For consignments of day-old chicks and hatching eggs, please ensure you follow the required timetable:
- You must notify the BCP by email at AC-HVH@ecsams.nl 48 hours before arrival to confirm your consignment is scheduled,
- Government veterinarians operate only in the morning, so your Export Health Certificate must be uploaded on TRACES before midday on the day before arrival, and
- The Hook of Holland BCP does not operate at weekends.
As with all exports, the Government strongly recommends that you continue to check directly with your BCP of entry prior to dispatch to ensure there are no local changes or additional requirements.
LOADING...