FOB Chief Executive’s Weekly News for 18th October 2021

Dear All,

Detailed below is the Weekly News for 18th October.

Items include HSE update on Digital MAC, ART and RAPP tools and FDF webinars on tackling labour shortages, and for FDF members an HMRC seminar on the forthcoming plastics tax.

Have a good week.

Gordon Polson – Chief Executive

Barclays Economic Update: UK Goss Domestic Product (GDP) Increased 0.4% in Aug’21

According to estimated data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK GDP increased 0.4% in aug’21, compared to a decrease of 0.1% in jul’21. The level of GDP in aug’21 stood 0.8% below the pre-pandemic level in feb’20.

During the period, GDP increased 2.9% between jun-aug’21. Mainly driven by the gradual reopening of accommodation and food service activities and an increase in human health activities.

The production output increased by 0.8% in aug’21, compared to a decrease of 0.3% in jul’21. This was driven by an increase in the extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas, following the temporary closure of oil field production sites for planned maintenance. In aug’21, the manufacturing sector output increased 0.5%, primarily due to growth in the manufacture of motor vehicles.

In addition, services sector output increased 0.3% in aug’21, compared to a decrease of 0.1% in jul’21. This was driven by an increase in output in consumer-facing services, food and beverage service activities and travel agency activities by 1.2%, 5.9% and 47.9% respectively.

 

UK Total Export of Goods Decreased 4.6% in aug’21

According to estimated data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), total export of goods in the UK, excluding precious metals, decreased 4.6%, equivalent to a value of £1.3bn in aug’21. This was due to a decrease in exports to the European Union (EU) and to non-EU countries by 4.3% and 5.0% respectively.

In aug’21, total imports of goods, excluding precious metals, decreased 3.1% i.e. £1.3bn, made up by a 5.6% decrease in imports from non-EU countries. meanwhile, imports from EU countries decreased 0.5%.

However, during the period jun-aug’21, the total imports of goods, excluding precious metals, increased 3.6% i.e. £4.1bn. Meanwhile, exports of goods decreased 1.5% i.e. £1.2bn during the same period.

 

EU to ban the use of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a food additive in 2022
The European Commission has announced that Member States have approved the European Commission’s proposal to ban the use of Titanium Dioxide (E171) as a food additive from 2022. Titanium Dioxide is used as a colorant in a number of products such as chewing gum, pastries, food supplements, soups and broths. The Commission’s proposal is based on the European Food Safety Authority’s conclusion that E171 could no longer be considered as safe when used as a food additive, in particular due to the fact that concerns regarding genotoxicity cannot be ruled out. Unless an objection is adopted by the end of the year by either the Council or the European Parliament, the text will enter into force in early 2022. This will then start a 6-month phasing out period, after which a full ban will apply in food products.

Salmonellosis outbreak linked to imported sesame-based products: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reports that five European countries have reported salmonellosis infections linked to the consumption of sesame-based products such as tahini and halva imported from Syria. The products are sealed and ready to be consumed, which suggests that contamination occurred before they reached the European market.

 

Glyphosate: The EFSA launched on 23 September 2021 a public consultation on the renewal assessment report on the active substance glyphosate. The ECHA also launched on 23 September 2021 a parallel consultation on the harmonised classification and labelling report for glyphosate. The scientific evaluations, which are the subject of these consultations, were prepared by the Assessment Group on Glyphosate (AGG) which comprises national competent authorities in France, Hungary, the Netherlands and Sweden. All comments to the consultations must be submitted by 22 November 2021. The EFSA will take the outcome of ECHA’s opinion on the classification of glyphosate into account in its peer review and is expected to finalise its work in the second half of 2022. The European Commission will then decide whether to renew the approval of glyphosate for use in the EU.

 

EU publishes new GB-NI Trade Proposals

On Wednesday, the EU published proposed changes to the NI Protocol. The FDF shared a summary for members covering the main elements on customs and agri-food. While the proposals are a welcome starting point for the negotiations, some of them raise concerns and need to be addressed in negotiations:

  • Labelling required stating that the products would only be sold in NI – we recognise that this would cause issues for packaging when exporting to other countries.
  • The requirement that only ‘originating’ products under the UK-EU TCA could benefit from the SPS easements would cause significant problems for suppliers serving NI.
  • The scope of the SPS proposals would not cover suppliers to NI manufacturers or food service.
  • We are concerned that the auditing process of the SPS scheme would be too burdensome for small suppliers.
  • Uncertainty as to whether an Official Vet (OV) would need to sign the simplified certificate and the requirement to meet EU rules for the product to enter NI.
WRAP publishes new research on supply chain emissions
Last Wednesday, WRAP published major new research into the UK food system GHG emissions. The research shows that the equivalent to 35% of total emissions come from production and consumption of food and drink. The new report also outlines the actions that policymakers, and the food and drink sector, must take to deliver the Courtauld 2030 GHG target and the UK’s net zero ambitions. WRAP notes the key actions for businesses include:

  • De-carbonising business operations
  • Developing a clear understanding of emissions throughout the supply chain
  • Meeting commitments to zero deforestation
  • Reducing food waste
  • Influencing consumer behaviours

Overall, on supply chain emissions, WRAP is leading on industry efforts to first establish a common set of accounting principles, and then an aligned industry approach to data sources. This work will be brought under the auspices of the FDSC Net Zero working group and is a critical friend to the development of an industry database as proposed under Recommendation 12 of the NFS.

HMRC to provide presentation for members on Plastic Packaging Tax
On Thursday 4 November at 10am, HMRC will provide an FDF members-only presentation on the Plastic Packaging Tax, with an overview and how to prepare for the tax which will be introduced from April 2022. Members will have the opportunity to raise concerns and ask questions. FDF members please contact Skye to register for the event

 

 

Plastic Packaging Tax: webinars 

Businesses that manufacture or import plastic packaging can sign up for HMRC’s “Get Ready for Plastic Packaging Tax Webinars” to learn more about what needs to be done before the tax comes into force on 1 April 2022. HMRC’s webinars will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding the administration of the tax.
Get ready for Plastic Packaging Tax – administration and technical aspects webinar
This webinar will cover the technical points about recycled plastic and exemptions from tax. It will take place at 1:45pm on Tuesday 26 October and 11:45am on Friday 12 November. Sign up here.

Get ready for Plastic Packaging Tax – introduction to Plastic Packaging Tax webinar
This webinar will cover how the tax will operate. It will take place at 1:45pm on Monday 8 November. Sign up here.

You can find full details on the Plastic Packaging Tax page at GOV.UK.

 

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.

 

HSE Update:

Digital MAC, ART and RAPP tools – now available

We are pleased to announce that the digital versions of the Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC), Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) and Risk Assessment of Pushing and Pulling (RAPP) tools are now available!

These are the latest assessment tools in the range from the HSE. Digitising these popular musculoskeletal disorders assessment guides will save your assessors time in populating the results manually. They have been designed to simplify the process of completing each assessment by applying a logical step-by-step approach.

Employers and safety representatives can use these tools to easily assess the risks posed by physical, strenuous activities. The assessor can then understand, interpret, categorise and communicate the level of risk before identifying how to mitigate against it.

The assessment stage of the solution is now available to use for free and can be accessed by following the links below:

Manual Handling MAC Tool

 

Repetitive Tasks ART Tool

 

Pushing and Pulling RAPP Tool

If you want to consolidate your assessments and analyse the results a premium option of the tool is available. More information can be found in the link below:

Premium MSD Tool

Want to find out more or ask a question?

All of our publications and tools are available on the HSE Books website

HSE offers a range of products and services to help you solve your health and safety challenges:
Guidance and Research; Publications and Products; Training and Events; Testing and Monitoring; Research and Consultancy.
FDF Labour Market Webinars:

The UK food and drink sector is battling a unique set of challenges that have coalesced to create fundamental labour shortages, placing huge pressure on businesses – both large and small. These shortages are placing huge pressure on the sector and are having an impact on production, processing, supply and ultimately demand. They are shortages that if they go unaddressed will have significant economic implications for the UK.

Take a look below at some of the invaluable free webinars we have coming up with our professional affiliates on tackling labour shortages within the Food and Drink Industry.

 

 

Meet your new co-workers: How robotics is helping UK manufacturers overcome workforce challenges
  20 October 2021
10:00 – 11:00

Human workers have been fundamental to the continued growth of British Food Production.  However, after the perfect storm of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, UK Industry is faced with, potentially, its biggest challenge yet: a massive shortfall in workers needed to keep the wheels in motion.  Robotics, however, offer an increasingly attractive way out for producers across the supply chain.  From inbound ingredient handling to outbound logistics (and everything in between), the plethora of opportunities to fill gaps left by unfilled vacancies on your shop floor is boundless. Join Omron to find out how robots might just be your new co-workers.

 

Labour shortages: the role of ESG in attracting and retaining your workforce
  20 October 2021
11:30 – 12:30

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues have risen in prominence in recent years. Climate change and environmental factors have been at the forefront of these developments. The pandemic has shifted the lens to look at how the other aspects of ESG operate. In this webinar, we look at ways in which employers can take a holistic approach to building a sustainable workforce, touching on diversity & inclusion, workforce engagement, fair working practices and looking at practical steps to progress that agenda.

 

 

Practical strategies to tackle labour shortages within your food & drink business
  20 October 2021
13:00 – 14:00

Grant Thornton’s specialist team will share insights on how to tackle these challenges, both from a people perspective, as well as an operational and production perspective. The session is designed to be informative and practical, enabling you to take these insights and implement them within your business.