Reviewed in November 2020. Content will be updated as negotiations develop.
Northern Ireland will leave the European Union single market in services on 1 January 2021 together with the rest of the UK. At present, producers across Europe (including the UK) adhere to a common set of standards in terms of labelling – this includes use of EU emblems and logos as well as compliance and conformity marking. However, from the end of the transition period, there are several changes that Irish businesses will need to be cognisant of when seeking to continue trading with UK firms.
Labelling – Useful Links
Useful UK (NI) Links:
This UK link provides further information on Food and Drink labelling changes from 1 January 2021. Key topic areas include, Exporting to the EU, Food Business Operator (FBO) Address, EU Organic Logo, EU Emblem, EU Health and Identification Marks as well as Country of Origin Labels. We would encourage you to take time to identify where these are relevant in your business.
Useful Ireland Links:
This link provides more information on food labelling in Ireland as well as Brexit. Some of the areas covered include addresses and origin labelling. We encourage you to avail of this information to prepare your business for the end of the transition period.
Food producers in Ireland will continue to use EU labelling when exporting food products to the UK, however there are additional responsibilities on Irish importers of food products when bringing in food from non-EU countries.
Useful UK (NI) Links:
One area where there will be some changes following the transition period is in labelling organic food products. If you are a business wishing to register a food product as organic, you are required to register with an organic control body.
For further information, we recommend visiting this link. Additionally, if you would like additional information regarding Organic Standards, click here.
Ireland:
Due to continued membership of the EU, Ireland food producers will continue to use the EU Organic Logo on pre-packaged organic food. However, from 1 January 2021, businesses in Northern Ireland will no longer be able to use the EU Organic Logo unless the control body is authorised by the EU or there is an agreement between the UK and the EU whereby they recognise each other’s standards.
We would encourage you to visit this link if you require further information.
Ireland:
If you supply any hazardous chemicals within the EEA, you must abide by the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation . It complements the REACH Regulation and ensures that the hazards of chemicals are clearly communicated to workers and consumers through pictograms and standard statements on labels and safety data sheets.
For more information, click here.
Useful UK (NI) Links:
The UK Declaration of Conformity is a document which must be drawn up for most products lawfully bearing a UKCA marking. For businesses based in NI, we suggest visiting this link for further information.
Useful Ireland Links:
For businesses based in Ireland, we encourage you to click here for more information.
Below are some important key points to remember:
When exporting products to another EU country in addition to CE Marking it is important to consider the following: