Red-tape burden for tractors imported from Britain

TIGHTER restrictions will be imposed on the importation of all secondhand machinery from Britain after January 1.

A trader notice issued recently stated that all importers of secondhand machinery into Ireland from Britain will have to be registered with the Department of Agriculture.

The Department notice also stated that secondhand machinery:

■ will be subject to physical checks upon arrival;

■ is required to be clean and free of soil or plant debris of any kind;

■ requires a phytosanitary certificate, provided by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of the exporting country;

Importers must submit all documents to DAFM at least 24 hours before arrival of consignment.

“The regulation is the price we have to pay for Brexit and for the machinery industry it is the first taste of what Brexit will be like,” said Gary Ryan, chief executive of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA).

“Most machinery is at a zero tariff under WTO, so we’re not overly worried about the financial impact of Brexit. It’s the administrative impact that we see being an issue, when you have to deal with customs documentation, and this is an example of that.

Licence

“Before this you could buy a tractor and load it up on a truck. Under this, to import such machinery from the UK you need to apply for a licence, register as an importer and so on, it’s a big admin burden,” Mr Ryan said..

“It’s the new reality and irrespective of a deal or no-deal Brexit.

”Machinery being imported from Northern Ireland is not included under the legislation, as long as the Good Friday Agreement lasts.”

Mr Ryan estimates that around 40-50pc of imported tractors come from the North, with the majority of these units being purchased by private buyers.

In contrast, most of the machinery and equipment comes from Britain.

And the vast majority of tractors from Britain come in through dealers.

“It’s another reason to buy local when it comes to second-hand tractors. There is perceived value in the UK, but there is security when you buy locally,” Mr Ryan said.