Local authorities enforce food legislation in EU-approved low-capacity slaughterhouses and in food manufacturers handling and/or processing low quantities of meat, meat preparations and meat products.
These premises are supervised and approved by local authorities with controls carried out by veterinary inspectors.
The food legislation enforced by the local authorities includes general food law, food hygiene, labelling, additives, flavourings, contaminants, and food contact materials.
As a food business, it is your responsibility to ensure that the food you place on the market is safe and complies with both EU and Irish food legislation.
The departure of the UK from the EU poses many challenges for food businesses and may result in some changes to how you carry out your business so it’s important for you to prepare.
Your food business will be affected by Brexit if you:
- buy any food ingredients or food products from the UK
- sell any food ingredients or food products to the UK
- move any food through the UK, either to or from Ireland (transit through the UK land bridge)
- source food ingredients or food products through an intermediary who sources or brings products from or through the UK
EU food legislation sets out additional checks, documents and in some cases specific entry points for food imports (from outside the EU) and the requirements can vary depending on the food type.
These checks are to protect the safety and health of EU citizens, preserve the integrity of the internal market and enforce compliance with fiscal obligations (duties, indirect taxes). In addition, all food from the UK that is supplied to the EU, will have to comply with EU food legislation.
Get further Brexit information resources
Now that the UK has left the EU, they can set their own requirements regarding food for their market, including product labelling and import requirements for food supplied to the UK. Check the gov.uk website for UK requirements and keep an eye out for updates.
To discuss the food regulatory implications of Brexit for your food business, contact your local authority veterinary inspector.