Get a move on
Our systems for frictionless transport to the EU haven’t been road tested yet
CONCERNS in the seafood sector over exports to Europe in a nodeal Brexit are more focused on the UK than the French side of the Channel. ‘Nothing is nailed, nothing is certain,’ said Seafood Scotland boss Patrick Hughes, talking to Fish Farmer after a delegation from the French port of Boulogne sur Mer visited Scotland last month.
The French guests took part in talks to further advance plans for the frictionless transport of seafood into Europe post Brexit.
The trip, which included logistic specialists, seafood buyers and the economic development team of Boulogne sur Mer, is the third in a series of visits, led by Seafood Scotland.
Boulogne is the go-to port for a vast amount of Scotland’s exported seafood and can provide a fast-track route for the continued movement of Scottish seafood to Europe, regardless of the outcome of Brexit.
The five-strong group – from Select Opale, Stef Transport Boulogne, Transport by Delanchy and Capecure Boulogne sur Mer Port – was given a tour of Peterhead fish market.
They then attended a round-table event with industry, trade bodies and government to discuss the issues facing the sector in the event of a no deal Brexit, and the support the Boulogne officials can provide.
The delegates also travelled south to DFDS in Larkhall, from where Scotland’s farmed salmon is distributed to destinations at home and abroad.
Jean-Noel Calon from Capecure Boulogne sur Mer, who was part of the delegation, said: ‘Working with Scotland is a top priority for Boulogne Seafood Cluster, which is the main gateway to EU markets for UK products.
‘The quality, sustainability and diversity of Scottish seafood is really appreciated by our consumers. We now need to work together in order to overcome the challenges ahead of us.’
The visit, and previous visits by Scottish
“What is very encouraging is the French have processes in place that they have verified”
seafood leaders to Boulogne sur Mer, ‘demonstrates the willingness other countries have to work in partnership with Scotland to facilitate transport of Scottish seafood to Europe’, a Seafood Scotland spokesman said.
Hughes added: ‘What is very encouraging is the French have systems and processes in place that they have verified and are happy with and they have road tested them.
‘The next step for us is to really nail down what our systems are going to be, whether that be producing and issuing environmental health export certificates or looking at lane prioritisation- and then we need to road test them very, very quickly.’
He said the Scottish agencies thought that lane prioritisation wasn’t going to be considered by the UK government, ‘but we’re hearing a different story now’.
‘We are hearing that the government is looking at ways that maybe perishable goods could go into a prioritised lane, but they would need the reassurance and the guarantee that the paperwork that goes with it is totally and utterly watertight.’
This depends on getting an online system up and running, but the authorities weren’t there yet.
Hughes said an online portal for export health certificates is apparently being piloted, but again nothing is set in concrete. ‘The industry has not seen these systems yet, it’s going take time for them to get familiar with them, and the increased administrative burden.
‘The more time that we can get industry to be familiar with these systems, means that come October 31, come a no deal – all this is for a no deal scenario anyway – the industry is best placed to deal with it.
‘Everybody is working very hard but at some point we need to see a product, we need to see the end result.
‘The deadline, whether it be October 31 or not, is rapidly approaching and therefore we really need to get these systems in place.’
The Animal Plant Health Association (APHA), based in Carlisle, is leading the development of the portal, said Hughes.
The details would be submitted by individual businesses to this portal, and they would then go to the respective local authority to be signed off for the inspectorate.
Although the system would be UK wide, it is in the main seafood that would be affected, in terms of the volume of export health certificates,
‘So although it is a nationwide issue, it has a particular impact in Scotland,’ said Hughes. ‘There is only one local authority in Scotland at this time that doesn’t issue export health certificates on seafood.’
But local authorities are clearly concerned about the resourcing of environmental health officers, he added.
Hughes is part of the Scottish government Resilience Group, which meets every two weeks, and is setting up a specific seafood group, and he also sits on a Defra business panel, which is more targeted at free trade agreements and where the markets should be focused post Brexit.
With Brexit negotiations and discussions ongoing, Seafood Scotland and the Scottish government will continue to work together to ensure alternative options are made available to Scottish seafood businesses.