Fish Farmer October 2021

Export

A long road ahead

Some of the post-Brexit problems faced by UK seafood exporters have been fixed, but there is still plenty to be done BY SANDY NEIL

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T’S one thing a�er another. No sooner had the seafood industry started to recover from the export crisis caused by Brexit than another one, a fuel crisis, added to the list of challenges. How the fuel crisis unfolds through the next few weeks remains to be seen, but we are now 10 months into the problems facing exports and imports with the EU. With a clearer perspec�ve, we can see where we’ve been, where we are now and where we are going. First, the story so far. The introduc�on of new border checks and paperwork since the end of the Brexit transi�on period on 31 December 2020 caused disrup�on to exports of fresh fish and seafood to the EU. Firms said they were having their shipments rejected due to forms filled in using the wrong colour of ink or confusion over paperwork. Others reported lengthy delays ge�ng trucks through customs, to the point where produce was spoiling or its value declining as it was not as fresh. The UK Government set up the Sco�sh Seafood Exports Taskforce in February. Scotland Office Minister David Duguid said its primary aim was to work collabora�vely across UK and Sco�sh governments to increase confidence in the seafood and aquaculture supply chain, by ensuring that medium- and longer-term export issues are resolved. Core industry members included the Sco�sh Salmon Producers Organisa�on (SSPO), the Sco�sh Fishermen’s Federa�on, the Sco�sh Seafood Associa�on, Communi�es Inshore Fisheries Alliance and Seafood Scotland.

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Six months later in August, the taskforce published its final 17 page report, highligh�ng a commitment to digi�se the system for Export Health Cer�ficates (EHCs) and explore the op�on of a Scotland-based “clearing house” for exports. This would have ensured that firms could check that all their paperwork was compliant with EU rules before leaving Scotland. However, the report stated: “Due to EU law it is not possible to have EU customs clearance outside of the EU.” The SNP cri�cised the decision to disband the task force. Karen Adam, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, said: “A�er just six months and only eight mee�ngs, the Westminster Government’s taskforce has submi�ed its final report so you might expect that the numerous problems faced by our vital seafood industry have been resolved. “Spoiler alert – they have most certainly not and the job is not even half done.” David Duguid, then Deputy Secretary of State for Scotland and now Fisheries Envoy following

Top: DFDS is a key haulier for the Sco�sh seafood industry Left: David Duguid Opposite from top: Jimmy Buchan; Donna Fordyce; Trucks on ferry

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12/10/2021 14:49:31