Documents and Procedure Steps to Access EU Markets Grant Wilkinson Defra

EU product classification system EU import procedures Documents for customs clearance EU Customs Union Value Added Tax (VAT) Excise duties To understand how the EU trade system is organised these are the key areas:

Documents required for customs clearance Commercial invoice Customs value declaration Freight documents Packing list Freight insurance Without these, the goods cannot enter the EU.

Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements Goods imported into the EU must meet the EU sanitary and phytosanitary requirements to protect human and animal health. Food and feed safety Plant health Public health

Under relevant requirements of EU food law, a number of rules apply to food hygiene. These include requirements concerning: Contaminants, Maximum residue levels for pesticides, The use of food additives, enzymes and flavourings, Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs, Food irradiation, Novel foods, Radioactivity.

There are specific requirements for products concerning: Quick frozen food, Food for particular nutritional purposes, Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Approved residue control plans.

EU legislation on plant health. The EU has laid down phytosanitary requirements to prevent the introduction and spread of organisms harmful to plants and plant products. The requirements mainly imply that: Certain commodities are not allowed to be imported into the EU because there are a number of listed organisms (pests); unless certain well established conditions are complied with in the country of origin. Specified plants or plant products must be accompanied by a plant health certificate.

Take note that the phytosanitary requirements also apply to wood used to package or wedge food or non-food products (called wood packaging material). So, even if your primary object is to export e.g. fishery products or wooden dolls, you have to take into account the phytosanitary requirements if you use wood as materials to packages and ship your products. Processed plant products such as furniture or wooden artefacts do not fall under the scope of these requirements.

General requirements Exports of plants and plant products to the EU must: be accompanied by a plant-health certificate issued by the relevant competent authorities of the exporting country undergo customs and phytosanitary inspections at the point of entry into the EU (border) be imported into the EU by an importer registered in the official register of an EU country be announced before arrival to the customs office at the point of entry. If consignments of plants or plant products originating in a non-EU country might pose a risk to the EU, the member countries or the European Commission may take temporary emergency measurestemporary emergency measures

Marketing standards for agricultural and fishery products EU marketing standards for agricultural and fishery products supplied fresh to the consumer are designed to guarantee quality. The European Union establishes common rules for agricultural markets. In particular, these rules concern public intervention in the markets, quota and aid schemes, marketing and production standards, and trade with third countries.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 established a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)1234/2007 The common organisation of agricultural markets (CMO) refers to the legal framework established at European level for certain agricultural sectors. The agricultural sectors concerned are listed in Annexes I and II to the Regulation. The European Union (EU) therefore provides common rules for managing agricultural markets, standards for marketing agricultural products and for importing and exporting them to/from the European Union.

EU countries conduct documentary and physical checks to ensure that imported products comply with these marketing standards. There are two key areas: Fruits and vegetables covered by specific marketing standards. Fruits and vegetables covered by a general marketing standard

Products from organic production Products complying with the rules for EU organic farming may bear the EU organic farming logo, certifying that the product has been manufactured according to organic standards.rules for EU organic farming There is a strict certification process for producing and marketing organic products with labels and logos on the EU market.

Critical Points Documentation must be correct: Documents must be made out to the importer. You must liaise with your importer and keep him informed. The transport company must know the destination and be familiar with EU border crossing procedures.