Page 229 — British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)

AVIAN INFLUENZA HOUSING MEASURES TO BE LIFTED IN ENGLAND AND WALES FROM APRIL 18TH

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have announced that they are planning to lift the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone housing measures for poultry and captive birds in England and Wales from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 April 2023. However, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone mandatory biosecurity measures will remain in place for all birds.

Their advice is that if you intend to allow your birds outside after 18th April you must act now to prepare the outside areas. Further information is available on GOV.UK & GOV.WALES. Keepers with any welfare concerns about their birds should speak to their vet.

The latest Avian Influenza information for Scotland is also available on GOV.SCOT.

Note: If you fall within a Protection Zone or Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone you are still required to house your birds, as infection may still be circulating in the environment for several more weeks. You can use the interactive map to check if you are in a zone.

The decision means that from 18^th April, eggs laid by hens with access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as ‘Free-Range’ eggs.

RETAINED EU LAW BILL MAY BE PAUSED

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Members will have seen reports in the media that the government has paused the progress of the Retained EU Law Bill (REUL) to report stage, over the Easter period in a bid to avoid cross party rows in the House of Lords in the run-up to the local elections, taking place on 4th May.

Furthermore, it has been speculated that ministers are now considering moving to a scaled down, less hurried version which may not move to report stages for months. Other ideas such as extending the date of the sunset clause beyond the end of the year are also muted to be under consideration.

The Bill would have removed more than 4,000 pieces of EU legislation from the UK statute book. Any legislation not converted into UK law by the end of 2023 would consequently, drop off the statute book.

Whilst we haven’t received any formal announcement, we will ensure members are kept up to date with the very latest developments on the REUL Bill. Hopefully, if it has been paused, industry will be allowed the time to effectively engage with government and input into any consultations as to which laws should be retained, reformed, or made redundant.

Please ensure you check our website and weekly newsletters for regular updates.

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) Changes Consultation

Posted on April 11, 2023November 7, 2025 by Sarah Collison

The Department for Transport is consulting on proposed changes to the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC). If these changes are implemented, they will only apply to drivers completing journeys within Great Britain, and Northern Ireland if authorities there agree, as DCPC is a devolved matter.

Drivers wishing to drive to, from or within the EU will still need to comply with the existing requirements due to arrangements within the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), as well as other relevant UK international obligations.

Proposed changes will therefore create two parallel qualifications for driving in GB and, potentially, NI:

A national DCPC (N-DCPC) – the subject of this consultation.
An international DCPC (I-DCPC) – the existing TCA-compliant regime.

The key changes include offering in parallel to the existing lengthy training format, which will be reformed, more flexibility with e-learning and a shorter ‘new periodic test’ which could save employees time and companies up to £460 per test in early estimates.

Reforms to training as well as the new cheaper and shorter periodic test will offer an accelerated route for former drivers to return to the sector more easily.

DCPC is currently obtained by passing four tests and renewed by completing 35 hours of training every five years, which can cost up to £500 for each individual training.

While supportive of DCPC in principle, the industry has raised concerns that in its current form the qualification is making it more difficult to retain and attract drivers to the sector, with high costs, poor flexibility and extended length of training among the main barriers to progress.

Safety is at the heart of the proposals, as the new periodic test will be delivered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and will continue to meet existing training standards to ensure that UK’s roads remain among the safest in Europe.

The consultation closes on 27 April 2023, see below link:

Introduction : Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) changes (smartsurvey.co.uk)

Exploring the Innovator Founder route: Changes, eligibility, and start date

Posted on April 6, 2023January 12, 2026 by Nicola Parkinson

Following the announcement of the most recent statement of changes to the Immigration Rules in a written statement to the House of Commons on 9 March 2023, we take a look at the introduction of the Innovator Founder route, what it will replace, and the eligibility criteria.

When will the Innovator Founder route take effect from?

The Innovator Founder route will be open from 13 April 2023, replacing the existing Innovator route and resulting in the closure of the Start-Up route. The Innovator Founder route is designed for overseas nationals seeking to come to the UK for the purpose of establishing an innovative business.

Summary of changes

The key changes from the current Innovator route include:

The removal of the £50,000 minimum funds requirement;
Supplemental employment permitted in skilled roles; and
Meetings with the endorsing body during the period of permission reduced to two.

It is expected the removal of the £50,000 minimum funds requirement will make the Innovator Founder route more flexible for those with a genuine business proposal and the sufficient funds available to deliver it.

Permitting Innovator Founders to engage in employment outside of the running of their business is an encouraging change, as it will assist applicants financially during the early stages of their new business.

What is the eligibility criteria?

New applicants to this route are still required to demonstrate an innovative, viable and scalable business idea and will require endorsement from one of three new Endorsing Bodies that will be published at Gov.uk.

Applicants with an Innovator visa, endorsed prior to 13 April 2023, can continue to be endorsed by Legacy Endorsing Bodies as long as it is for the same business idea used in their initial application.

How can we help?

If you are a current Innovator visa holder, or are considering applying to the new Innovator Founder route and would like to discuss how the changes affect you, contact Calum Hanrahan.

Overseas / Immigration

Contact: Calum Hanrahan calum.hanrahan@shma.co.uk

DRAFT BORDER TARGET OPERATING MODEL PUBLISHED

Posted on April 5, 2023April 5, 2023 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

The long awaited draft border Target Operating Model (TOM) has now been published and a copy is available to view online here. The BFFF would encourage members to view the draft TOM and provide any feedback via the online feedback tool which can be accessed here. If you are also able to share a copy of your feedback with us, that would be greatly appreciated and will ensure we represent our members effectively during our engagement with Government. Please send to deniserion@bfff.co.uk

The model sets out the Government’s plan to realise the ambition of the 2025 Border Strategy to create the most effective border in the world.

The proposals in the Target Operating Model apply to imports of live animals, germinal products, animal products, plants and plant products from all countries into Great Britain and will see the implementation of new security and biosecurity controls on imports from the EU. These controls will ensure our environment is protected, deliver food that is safe to eat whilst maintaining security of supply for consumers.

The model will be implemented through three major milestones, the first of which importers and their supply-chains should begin to prepare for now:

31 October 2023 – The introduction of health certification on imports of medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU.
31 January 2024 – The introduction of documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks on medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU. At this point imports of Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods from the rest of the world will begin to benefit from the new risk-based model.
31 October 2024 – Safety and Security declarations for EU imports will come into force from 31 October 2024. Alongside this, we will introduce a reduced dataset for imports and use of the UK Single Trade Window will remove duplication where possible across different pre-arrival datasets.

Defra are now entering a six-week period of engagement with industry and want to hear your views on the initial proposals. They plan to run a programme of engagement with stakeholder groups from all the nations of the UK and with international partners. These will bring stakeholders and policy teams from government together to discuss and test the proposals set out in the TOM. There will be sector specific workshops and international engagement events, as well as wider stakeholder groups and bespoke sessions. You may view a list of TOM workshops via this Eventbrite page.

SAFETY WON’T BE FORGOTTEN IN THE RACE TO NET ZERO

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary

Professor Andrew Curran, Director of Science and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Safety will be a central part of Great Britain’s move to Net Zero the top scientist at the country’s workplace regulator says.

The government has committed to decarbonising our economy by 2050 and that will involve embracing new technologies.

Professor Andrew Curran, Director of Science at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a member of the government’s Chief Scientific Advisers Network, says scientists at HSE are already working to address challenges presented by the move to Net Zero.

The safe use of lithium-ion batteries, testing hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in tunnels, and the safety of hydrogen as a potential fuel for flights are just some areas where HSE scientists are safe-guarding safety during the introduction of Net Zero technologies.

This work is highlighted in the annual HSE science review published on the 28^th March.

Professor Curran said: “HSE scientists have a key role to play here. Bringing together scientific expertise and Britain’s proud health and safety record, they have spent more than 20 years identifying and tackling emerging safety challenges to enable the safe introduction of net zero energy technologies. They have worked with policymakers, industry, and researchers around the world.

“By doing so HSE is playing an important role in enabling a safe pathway to reaching net zero by 2050.”

In addition to work on net zero safety, ensuring the learning from the COVID-19 National Core Study enables future pandemic preparedness, and the authorisation of the first UK application of a pesticide using a drone are some of the other case studies captured in HSE’s Annual Science Review.

Read more about HSE’s case studies highlighted in this year’s Annual Science Review.

To hear HSE scientists and engineers presenting 5 min ‘Turbo Talks’ on their work, please join us for the 2023 HSE Annual Science Review launch seminar, online, at 1pm on 20 April. To register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hse-2023-annual-science-review-seminar-tickets-598384804057

A few reasons to become a member of BFFF

To find out more about becoming a member call 01400 283 095 or email the team

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Exclusive Partnership deals on key products and services:

BFFF energy deals and rates
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Defib Plus deals
Company Shop – membership
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Exclusive access to networking opportunities and events:

Meet the Buyer events (retail & foodservice)
Annual Business Conference with networking dinner
Specialist H&S and Technical Conferences
Special interest groups (packaging, frozen food temperatures)
Annual Lunch
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We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities to BFFF members across our events throughout the year, with flexible packages that can be tailored to suit your business objectives.

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