Poultry meat marketing standards when the UK leaves the EU

There will be some changes affecting the marketing standards of poultry meat if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Exporting poultry meat from the UK to the EU

UK exports to the EU bearing one or more of these farming or chilling methods (optional indications) must have a certificate from a UK competent authority.

Farming method marks

• fed with … % …
• extensive indoor or barn-reared
• free range
• traditional free range
• free range total freedom

Chilling method marks

• air-chilling
• air-spray chilling
• immersion chilling

This requirement is outlined in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 543/2008.

Competent authority certificates

The UK government is establishing measures to issue certificates. There is however a possibility that the certification may not be available from the date the UK leaves the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it is a business decision to export poultry meat to the EU without a certificate, or to remove optional indications.

If exporting without a certificate, exports may be delayed or rejected at an EU border. If deciding to remove optional indications, exporters should ensure optional indications are removed from all packaging, labelling and accompanying documentation.

If you plan to export poultry meat from the UK to the EU marked with any of these chilling and farming methods, please contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at poultry.mailbox@defra.gov.uk.

Marketing standards checks

There may be more marketing standards checks carried out on your products when they arrive in the EU. EU officials may check that your exports comply with the relevant EU marketing standards regulation for poultry meat. These are the regulations currently in force in the UK for poultry meat marketing standards. These regulations will be retained in UK law after the UK leaves the EU.

Customs checks

There may be more customs checks carried out on your products. Poultry meat, along with all products of animal origin, should enter the EU via a border inspection post (BIP).

For more information see exporting animals, animal products, fish and fishery products to the EU after EU Exit.

Importing poultry meat to the UK from EU and non-EU countries

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there will be no immediate change to marketing standards for imported poultry meat. This applies to poultry meat from the EU and from non-EU (third) countries.

EU poultry meat bearing farming or chilling methods will not need a certificate from an EU competent authority for one year after the UK leaves the EU.

Trading between Northern Ireland and Ireland

If you are trading between Northern Ireland and Ireland you can find more information at EU Exit: Avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland in a no deal scenario.

Exporting poultry meat from the UK to non-EU countries

Poultry meat for export to non-EU (third) countries may need to comply with different requirements from those in the EU regulations for:

• quality
• marking
• labelling

You should check the import requirements of the country you’re exporting to.

Exporting poultry meat to non-EU (third) countries via the EU

You do not need a certificate for exports travelling through the EU as part of a customs transit procedure, unless your destination country requires one.