On 14th January the EU published Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/25, amending and correcting detailed rules for Council regulation (EC) No. 834/2007. This has very important implications for exports of organic produce to the European Union (EU), and action needs to be taken immediately. The rule requires that the Certificate of Origin (COI) for organic goods must be issued prior to the shipping of the goods from the country of origin. Any COI issued after the date of the Bill… +

GREATER CERTAINTY UNTIL 1ST JANUARY 2021 After a period of uncertainty, there is now greater clarity regarding the completion of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU). With an 80-seat majority in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Johnson now has an unassailable majority for the passage of the revised EU27/UK Withdrawal Agreement through the UK Parliament, with this process now well under way. So the UK is now firmly on track to leave the EU on 31st January… +

In order to assist members, partners and beneficiaries perform a comprehensive Brexit readiness assessment, COLEACP has compiled a series of elements intended to better appreciate potential implications of Brexit on current business models, with a specific focus on whether main impacted supply chains are sufficiently resilient to continue functioning in a post-Brexit environment. The following news is structured in three main sections. It is strongly recommended to move from Context to Main issues and implications prior to dive into Impacted… +

The return of a Conservative Party-led government with a clear parliamentary majority now means the revised Withdrawal Agreement should receive Parliamentary ratification, with the agreed transition period entering into effect until at least 1st January 2021, while negotiations for a new comprehensive UK/EU free trade area agreement are completed. While any immediate prospect of a ‘No-Deal Brexit’ has therefore been averted until at least 1st January 2021, it remains a possibility given the commitments made during the General Election campaign… +

On 14th December 2019, a new EU plant health regulation ((EU) 2016/2031) comes into operation bringing rigorous new rules to prevent the introduction and spread of pests and diseases in the EU. Countries exporting fruit and vegetables to the EU must take action to ensure that all consignments are in compliance. The new Official Control Regulations describe actions to be taken by competent authorities of EU Member States on imported produce. The most critical points to note at the present… +

Sustainability Focus, Meetings and Trends that are the latest news from COLEACP and its programmes. Available here! Enjoy your reading!  … +

Remember to consult COLEACP’s call for tenders regularly. They are published on the COLEACP e-services website.… +