No-deal Brexit food labelling: Defra promises ‘pragmatic’ approach if changes have to be made If the UK leaves the EU without an equivalency agreement, food labelling will have to change

Food produced in the UK and exported to the EU will require new identification marks in the case of a no-deal Brexit.

Currently, products of animal origin (POAO) must be in packaging with an oval health symbol indicating it was made in the EU. But in the event of Britain exiting the EU without a deal, a new UK version would be released, according to Defra, to replace the current system.

Quite simply, food products currently produced in the UK are technically made in the EU. And labelling on packaging helps to distinguish that.

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Once the UK leaves the EU, its meat and other goods will no longer be made within the bloc. Theresa May is still trying to negotiate a deal with the EU, but if this does not happen and the UK leaves with no equivalency arrangement, it’s likely the EU will not authorise existing labelling.

Defra is asking food businesses to be prepared for any necessary amendments.

“You can continue to use the EU oval health and identification mark on POAO from and sold in the UK until 31 December 2020,” Defra said in its latest advice to food producers, manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers.

Defra announced the updated guidance on Tuesday, and encouraged a “pragmatic approach to enforcement” for goods placed on the UK market after 29 March 2019.

Goods with existing labelling for sale before 29 March, but which run over the date while in stock or on shelves, can “continue to be sold through until the stocks are exhausted”.

Transition period

Defra said food businesses will have a 21-month transition period for “the most significant changes to food labels”. Though some technical changes – what these are, exactly, is unclear – will be required “from day one”.

The government department said the measures are to protect the interests of consumers, while ensuring those in the industry are able to manage the scale of changes.

This would all take time. Defra accepted that there may be a period in which food and drink products destined for export are stickered or plastered until a permanent change is made.

New logo

Defra also mentioned its Geographical Indication Schemes logo: “There will be a three-year transition period for the new UK Geographical Indication Schemes logo.

“The new logo will be available from 29 March 2019 so producers have the option to make GI labelling changes before the end of the adoption period if they wish”.

Changes from 29 March are not as rigorous. The priorities for food businesses will be to correctly mark the country of origin, whether the product is organic, and to make sure the EU emblem doesn’t appear.

After 31 December 2020, it gets a lot more complicated. As well as the EU oval health and identification marks, Defra set out a number of examples of what needs to happen. It underlines just how complex Brexit is for the food industry.