Cold Chain Federation Chief Executive Shane Brennan: As we undergo another national lockdown, the coming months are full of uncertainty. How long will lockdown last, what will the exit look like this time, how will hospitality and aviation businesses survive, will there be further lockdowns? And all in the context of the disruption we await in the new year when the Brexit transition period ends.
The new border arrangements include a number of changes to look out for in particular, such as the need to become familiar with the INCOTERMS for goods destined for or arriving from the EU. These set out who is responsible to pay duty and complete the paperwork, so it is important to check the INCOTERMS carefully.
A second change regards requirements for Export Health Certificates (EHC) for meat and dairy products crossing borders, which must be signed off within 24 hours of dispatch in person by an Official Veterinarian. We anticipate a severe shortage of Official Veterinarians so cold chain businesses should expect to have to manage the fallout of delays.
We should also expect disruption from the requirement for every commercial vehicle leaving the UK via Dover or Eurotunnel to get a Kent Access Permit. Each time, drivers or their back-office support must confirm via web portal either that their vehicle is empty or that necessary export processes have been completed and the driver has the right documents. Both distribution and storage elements of the cold chain will have a part to play in ensuring paperwork is in place before drivers leave depots.
Despite Covid and Brexit upheaval, our industry’s work to innovate continues. The path towards a net zero cold chain is at the core of the industry’s future and I hope you can join me virtually for our energy seminars this week, on 17 and 18 November. They will set out the details of the renewed and revised cold storage Climate Change Agreement (CCA) as well as discussing the innovations helping businesses to simultaneously cut energy costs and achieve the new CCA targets.
These online workshops are accompanied by our comprehensive new guide, Energy Efficiency in Cold Stores – A Practical Guide, which details everything from how to create an energy strategy, specific operational changes and investment decisions, and available options for renewable energy.
If you can’t join the seminars live, you can catch up online and access the new guide via the Cold Chain Federation website: www.coldchainfederation.org.uk
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