CO2 Shortages:CF industries has successfully completed price negotiations with the wholesalers. It will continue to produce CO2 at its Billingham plant after Government financial support is withdrawn tomorrow, and supply of CO2 is expected to normalise.
Defra is interested to hear from companies who are still experiencing shortages. Please let Kate at FDF know if your company is continuing to experience shortages.
FDF will now start work with Government to build longer term resilience into the supply of CO2. If you are interested in being kept updated on this work and are an FDF member please ensure you are signed up to Carbon dioxide shortages alerts
FDF survey on impact the Northern Ireland Protocol
We are conducting an industry survey to assess possible impacts of the NI Protocol to the future flow of goods from GB into NI. The survey can be found here and will be open until Monday 18 October.
We urge all interested members to complete this survey as this evidence will be vital to our work as we seek to influence the European Commission in negotiations over the Protocol. The survey should take no longer than five minutes to complete. Contact Luke if you have any questions or if you would like a copy of the questions before responding.
HMRC to hold webinar on plastic packaging tax
HMRC are holding a webinar for businesses that manufacture or import plastic packaging on what they need to do before the tax comes into force from 1 April 2022. The webinar will cover how the tax will operate, focusing on what plastic packaging the tax applies to, who is responsible for paying and accounting, and tax returns (reporting) and record keeping. The webinar will take place on 20 October at 13:45. To sign up, click here.
16th November marks the International Whole Grain Day! Join the Whole Grain Initiative and a host of global leaders to discuss how the daily consumption of whole grains is a vital part of not only healthy, but also sustainable diets. A live webinar with experts and key opinion leaders in the field from around the world will be held on 16th November 2021. Registration is FREE OF CHARGE and is already open – sign up today!
The Covid-19 Pandemic has brought many things, including a reminder of how important resilient, sustainable, productive, and healthy food systems are in our lives. For policy makers, it is a fundamental task to continue to invest in policies to tackle the “triple challenge” of simultaneously providing food security and nutrition to a growing global population, ensuring the livelihoods of millions of people working along the food chain farm to fork, and ensuring the environmental sustainability of the sector in the medium and long term. Studies show that whole grain foods save water, provide more food and less waste, and support better land use and healthy soil. As part of the 3rd Annual International Whole Grain Day celebration, watch key opinion leaders from around the globe offer their support for whole grains! Find here the programme and registration link
Plastic Packaging Tax
A new Plastic Packaging Tax comes into force on 1 April 2022.
Invitation to participate in research
We are looking to get feedback on the Plastic Packaging Tax, and will be conducting research sessions during October and November 2021, with further research sessions being held through to April 2022.
If you or your organisation would like to participate in a research session, please contact ruth.clark@hmrc.gov.uk with a contact name and email address of a suitable person who we can speak with. If you have already participated in research sessions, thank you, and please get in touch as we would appreciate your continued support.
You can find full details on the Plastic Packaging Tax page at GOV.UK.
Statements with invoices
In light of helpful feedback from industry, the requirement to include a Plastic Packaging Tax statement with invoices will not be commenced when the rest of the tax takes effect on 1 April 2022.
We encourage businesses to consider how they can address this on a voluntary basis in the short term. In the medium term, HMRC will work with industry to agree an effective and practical requirement.
Further guidance and support to businesses will be provided in the near future.
New timetable for introducing border controls
The Government has set out a new timetable for introducing full import controls for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods being imported from the EU to the UK.
The controls will now be phased in across 2022:
From 1 January 2022
- The requirement for pre-notification of products of animal origin, animal by-products and high risk food not of animal origin which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 January 2022, along with pre-notification for lower risk plants and plant products.
From 1 July 2022
- The new requirements for GB Export Health Certificates from EU exporters, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
- Phytosanitary certificates for lower risk plant produce, due to be introduced on 1 January 2022, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
- Physical checks on SPS goods at Border Control Posts will now begin on 1 July 2022.
All current controls for live animals, POAO under safeguard measures and high priority plants and plant products remain unchanged.
In addition, the following customs controls will be phased in:
- Full customs declarations and controls will be introduced on 1 January 2022 as previously announced.
- Safety and Security declarations on imports will be required as of 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022.
The new timeline allows importers, exporters and EU certifiers more time to prepare for the requirements and controls. It will ensure we reduce any anticipated disruption when these measures are introduced. Read more here.
Project to measure environmental performance of the UKs food and drink sector launched: The UKs environment agency has launched a project to establish standardised metrics to measure environmental performance of the UK’s food and drink sector. under this project, the environment agency will work in partnership with the institute for manufacturing at the university of cambridge, scottish environment protection agency, northern ireland environment agency, waste and resources action programme and the british standards institute.
The project will help manufacturers communicate their environmental performance to the public effectively, reducing the error for green washing. additionally, the project will simplify the environmental performance of companies in key areas such as greenhouse gas reduction and resource efficiency.
The report also highlighted that the project will incentivise companies to adopt greener manufacturing processes, which help to tackle climate change. additionally, the project had received a £195k grant from the £3.7m regulators’ pioneer fund, launched by the department for business, energy and industrial strategy. |
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