Current Affairs EU In or Out

[nsno-chris]

No it didnt allow free reign, there are literally hundreds of US products that cant be sold or imported into the EU because of standardised rules. Plastics containing a ceratin amount of BPA is a classic example.

The UK, when it was a memebr of the EU, was at the forefront of writing consumer protection law.

Err I’m not gonna go into it, but as some who has dealt directly with EU and the USA Foreign Agriculture Service I can 100% guarantee that EU food standards were “bypassed” to allow goods to enter.

I can also 100% guarantee that both Rotterdam and Hamburg, after being to both, do not conduct checks as per the requirements in EU law

 

[dublinbluenose]

Err I’m not gonna go into it, but as some who has dealt directly with EU and the USA Foreign Agriculture Service I can 100% guarantee that EU food standards were “bypassed” to allow goods to enter.

I can also 100% guarantee that both Rotterdam and Hamburg, after being to both, do not conduct checks as per the requirements in EU law

If you've ever filled out a visa waiver on a flight to the US then you've "dealt directly with" US dept if Agriculture.

I've a brother who works in the port of Rotterdam.

 

[nsno-chris]

If you've ever filled out a visa waiver on a flight to the US then you've "dealt directly with" US dept if Agriculture.

I've a brother who works in the port of Rotterdam.

Ok mate, I’m talking about in relation to legislative official controls at the border, not filling in a form when entering the country.

And good for your brother i hope he enjoys it, but they still don’t conduct the controls as per the requirements in official controls regulations.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

I get bored saying I asked this question years ago (GFA/Irish border post Brexit?). Never got an answer, other than "some tech stuff".

Brexiteers blame it on the EU. Still cant wrap my nut around that neither.

Must be me I guess.

Seems to me and in particular after the recent elections in NI, that the majority people are just getting on with it. They seem to be adapting to the border and NI no longer being part of the UK as it was before the NI protocol was enacted. Just seems to be our Government and DUP with other loyalists seem to have an issue. And with election result in mind fast shrinking influence in NI... The people of NI are speaking it's time for the UK to.let go.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Ok mate, I’m talking about in relation to legislative official controls at the border, not filling in a form when entering the country.

And good for your brother i hope he enjoys it, but they still don’t conduct the controls as per the requirements in official controls regulations.

And if by magic, full article in yesterday FT.

But don't listen to the experts it will all be fine... Because some one told me, who needs critical thinking, when social media is much better.

 

[nsno-chris]

And if by magic, full article in yesterday FT.

But don't listen to the experts it will all be fine...

Yep, I brought the below up a couple of weeks ago (below). We informed the government about 2 years ago about this potential issue

Yes; anybody with brain, who is brining any “dodgy” food that would be normally rejected by the EU, would just transship it via a European port and into U.K. - this way it would not require checks by an EU port

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Yep, I brought the below up a couple of weeks ago (below). We informed the government about 2 years ago about this potential issue

Have heard about van loads of "free market " pork getting into the country where African swine fever is prevalent.

 

[nsno-chris]

Have heard about van loads of "free market " pork getting into the country where African swine fever is prevalent.

It’s an open border, it won’t just be neat it’ll be things like seeds and nuts that have high aflatoxin results. Illegal fruits and veg - it’s open season at the border.

We have had issues in the past, via the inadequaties at other European ports (mainly Hamburg) that allowed for a load of Smokey’s to be imported, along with other illegal meats such as bat meat.

There was so much money involved in it that a “hit” was put out on enforcement officer who was adamant to stop it - https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2005/may/08/crime.food

 

[peteblue]

No it didnt allow free reign, there are literally hundreds of US products that cant be sold or imported into the EU because of standardised rules. Plastics containing a ceratin amount of BPA is a classic example.

The UK, when it was a memebr of the EU, was at the forefront of writing consumer protection law.

Do people not think though that sending sausages from Lincolnshire to Northern Ireland and requiring a Veterinarian report is a bit OTT. Obviously consumers have to be protected, but once you give bureaucracy the opportunity to continually add more and more layers of paperwork it becomes self defeating apart from being what it really is, a trade barrier. Bureaucracy did not stop Covid from entering Europe and killing hundreds of thousands. The absence of a Vets certificate on a Lincolnshire sausage will not wipe out Northern Ireland…..

 

[Alan Whittle]

Do people not think though that sending sausages from Lincolnshire to Northern Ireland and requiring a Veterinarian report is a bit OTT. Obviously consumers have to be protected, but once you give bureaucracy the opportunity to continually add more and more layers of paperwork it becomes self defeating apart from being what it really is, a trade barrier. Bureaucracy did not stop Covid from entering Europe and killing hundreds of thousands. The absence of a Vets certificate on a Lincolnshire sausage will not wipe out Northern Ireland…..

What you really need to solve this is some kind of single market with goods and services travelling unhindered between countries with set standards in place to protect the consumer. You’d think that could be done in this day and age.

 

[peteblue]

What you really need to solve this is some kind of single market with goods and services travelling unhindered between countries with set standards in place to protect the consumer. You’d think that could be done in this day and age.

That was the reason we joined the Common Market. Unfortunately they had to ruin it by trying to turn it into a Superstate.……

 

[Bluerover]

Ok mate, I’m talking about in relation to legislative official controls at the border, not filling in a form when entering the country.

And good for your brother i hope he enjoys it, but they still don’t conduct the controls as per the requirements in official controls regulations.

As a retired Irish Department of Agriculture officer I am all too familiar with EU food hygiene Regs. The EU's FVO carries out a load of audits in every Member State and those in the EEA that have signed up to the Regs.

They are a PITA but very stringent and thorough and are extremely strict and unmoving on the tiniest of breaches. DG Agriculture does the welfare audits regularly.

I would be astonished if the countries you mention are lax

 

[nsno-chris]

As a retired Irish Department of Agriculture officer I am all too familiar with EU food hygiene Regs. The EU's FVO carries out a load of audits in every Member State and those in the EEA that have signed up to the Regs.

They are a PITA but very stringent and thorough and are extremely strict and unmoving on the tiniest of breaches. DG Agriculture does the welfare audits regularly.

I would be astonished if the countries you mention are lax

I have been involved with numerous FVO Audits over the years, and had many arguments with them about how ridiculous they are. I have also visited a large majority of European Ports and witnessed the inconsistencies of such audits.

The requirements stated in EU 2017/625 and related legislation (that replaced 882/2004, 97/78, 852/2004 etc) does not happen at the larger European ports. The articles stating how physical checks are conducted, the percentages of those checks, are not carried out in accordance with the regulations. The FVO would never de-list the BCP (formerly BIP) in those countries because it would bring the worlds supply chain to a grinding halt.

So whilst, Liverpool, Larne, Dublin and all the other smaller ports are heavily criticised if they do not follow the legislative requirements, these other ports are not. I've witnessed the physical checks being conducted, they are done as the container is on the back of the truck ready to leave the port, they are not fully devanned neither are they sampled in accordance with the regulations - because there is that much traffic and so little time.

So whilst the legislation may say one thing, which I'm fully aware of, the reality is not like that

 

[Alan Whittle]

That was the reason we joined the Common Market. Unfortunately they had to ruin it by trying to turn it into a Superstate.……

A Superstate you say?

 

[Bluerover]

I have been involved with numerous FVO Audits over the years, and had many arguments with them about how ridiculous they are. I have also visited a large majority of European Ports and witnessed the inconsistencies of such audits.

The requirements stated in EU 2017/625 and related legislation (that replaced 882/2004, 97/78, 852/2004 etc) does not happen at the larger European ports. The articles stating how physical checks are conducted, the percentages of those checks, are not carried out in accordance with the regulations. The FVO would never de-list the BCP (formerly BIP) in those countries because it would bring the worlds supply chain to a grinding halt.

So whilst, Liverpool, Larne, Dublin and all the other smaller ports are heavily criticised if they do not follow the legislative requirements, these other ports are not. I've witnessed the physical checks being conducted, they are done as the container is on the back of the truck ready to leave the port, they are not fully devanned neither are they sampled in accordance with the regulations - because there is that much traffic and so little time.

So whilst the legislation may say one thing, which I'm fully aware of, the reality is not like that

Interesting. I know they used to really come down on us for any minor breaches, not just at the points of entry but at slaughtering, processing and retail establishments.