Press Releases

In 2013, we published The Benefits of Imports, a paper that explored how imported meat contributes to UK food supply. Today, we are pleased to release The Crucial Role of Imports, which reaffirms and updates that analysis in light of current global dynamics.  

IMTA welcomes today’s announcement that the UK and EU will seek an SPS Agreement as it will significantly reduce barriers for trade in meat between the UK and the EU to the benefit of businesses and consumers. This is good news for our members trading with the EU. We look forward to further constructive discussions between the UK and EU on common areas of cooperation. However, we must note we have concerns that dynamic alignment of UK to EU legislation means loss of the UK’s regulatory independence, especially with regard to our rest of world imports which have benefitted from more proportionate import controls under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).

IMTA welcomes yesterday’s announcement of a trade deal between the UK and US which sees reciprocal tariff rate quota access in both directions without any changes to UK food standards. 

Following extensive consultation with members, IMTA has arrived at this position on a Potential Veterinary or SPS Agreement between UK and EU:

For many years IMTA has been advocating in favour of the digitalisation of trade and the UK Single Trade Window’s (STW) implementation expected in 2024/2025 was a much-anticipated step to achieve that. Although financial constraints meant government has had to pause the project until 2026, we hope that efforts towards the digitalisation of trade will continue, especially regarding the implementation of electronic health certification.

With the shock calling of a UK General Election for the 4th of July, IMTA will be keen to see the manifestos of the major political parties when they are published. Members will be particularly interested to see what might be in store on trade policy. As set out in our infographics, two-way trade is essential for the meat sector.

IMTA was interested to see the latest Defra blog post which responded to various questions raised in the media on Defra’s calculations for the impact of the BTOM on consumers.

IMTA and the wider industry have been calling for Defra to release crucial remaining detail on the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) to enable industry to prepare for the 30th of April go live for full veterinary checks on imports from the EU. Yesterday the long-awaited detail of the Common User Charge (CUC) emerged. IMTA responded months ago to the government’s CUC consultation and though it does seem like some of the points raised in the consultation have been reflected on it still brings extremely unwelcome additional costs for industry and UK consumers. This is in addition to the charges that have already been incurred with the introduction of health certification. IMTA believes that the estimates in the final BTOM of the additional costs to industry as a result of the BTOM are likely substantially underestimated as they will not have taken into consideration the additional administrative burden and impact on operating hours for supply chains.

After successive delays, the first stage of implementation of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is upon us. Government has been adamant that another delay is not on the cards: at 1 minute past midnight on Wednesday 31st January the UK will roll out new requirements on imports from the EU. IMTA is working hard to support members with the change with briefings and troubleshooting support.

Industry had been left in limbo in recent months between the April publication of the Draft Target Operating Model, and today’s official confirmation of a further delay to the introduction of SPS controls on imports from the EU. Imposing controls with just over two months' notice, and in the run up to Christmas, the busiest period in the year for the meat industry, would have had significant impact on traders. Though a delay is necessary at this late stage, it will be to the frustration of many who have expended yet more time preparing for changes the UK government had firmly told industry would happen from October 31st.

The UK published its Target Operating Model (TOM) on the future of the UK border in April 2023. A consultation period ran for 6 weeks and closed on Friday 19 May. Though the official consultation period has finished, many questions remain for industry before the introduction of controls on imports from the EU from 31 October 2023.

Following the UK Food Summit, IMTA is pleased to see the announcement today of five new Agricultural Attachés, who will be based in UK embassies around the world.  The UK’s growing attaché network is a powerful tool for promoting international trade.

The International Meat Trade Association (IMTA) welcomes the announcement that the new UK Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand are expected to come into force on 31st May 2023.

The UK Government’s long-anticipated draft Border Target Operating Model (TOM) has finally been published.  Though we welcome the continued commitment to the proportionate, simplified and digitised delivery of import controls we are concerned about the timeframe outlined in the draft where crucial details are still missing. Six months is not a long time for introducing health certification for the EU, especially when the simplified certificates are still yet to be published. At a time when the cost of living is front and centre, it is imperative that controls are delivered in a way that is as efficient and effective as possible to avoid too many additional costs to businesses and consumers.

IMTA was pleased to see the publication of the Government Food Strategy for England. IMTA was engaged with the Dimbleby Review in 2019 and advocated for the need for two-way trade in the food system to safeguard food security, consumer choice and facilitate carcase balance in the UK meat sector. These issues are brought into sharp focus when the food system faces challenges as it has over the past few years. IMTA particularly welcomes the elements of the Strategy focused on international trade.

IMTA recently surveyed members on readiness for 1st July and there were significant concerns about readiness on the EU side including with regard to veterinary capacity for certification and how this would add further pressure to supply chains.