UK sausage makers face EU export ban

 UK sausage makers face EU export ban

Raw sausages and other minced meats can no longer be exported to the EU from 1 January, according to new rules.

New EU rules on exports dictate that from 1 January, the following animal products cannot be exported into the EU:

• Chilled minced red meat
• Chilled meat preparations (for example, raw sausages)
• Minced meat (poultry)
• Poultry and ratite or game bird mechanically-separated meat
• Raw milk from cows infected with Bovine Tuberculosis (TB)
• Ungraded eggs
• Composite products containing dairy products made from unpasteurised milk (for example, a ready meal topped with unpasteurised cheese)

However, these new rules do not affect exports of raw minced meats to Northern Ireland.

The British Meat Processors Association's (BMPA) chief executive Nick Allen said: “This was just one of the issues that was causing us some concern, but I guess towards the end we sort of knew that wasn't going to come through in the negotiations, the way they were going.

"We hope they will be carrying on talking to the EU and that they will push through and create an export health safety certificate for these products so they can go through.

Mr Allen said “That wording tells us what we have to comply with and we hope we are not going to hear that there are things we're not expecting to be on there," he said. ‘A new opportunity'

Wilfred Emmanuel Jones says 

Since he will no longer be allowed to export fresh sausages to the EU, he has decided to send them frozen instead.

"There's a really big opportunity to do premium frozen sausages for the continent," he explained. "One problem we have with sausages is that in this country at least, anything frozen is seen as down-market, not a premium product."

A government spokeswoman said: “We have agreed a deal based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals, centred on free trade and inspired by our shared history and values.

“It takes the UK completely out of the EU’s customs union and single market – which means businesses should continue their preparations for changes next year.”

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