A microbrewery in Bristol has been convicted after breaching health and safety regulations which led to a fire in 2018.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service prosecuted the Brewhouse and Kitchen after it was found the pub did not have suitable and sufficient measures in place to reduce risk and spread of fire at its premises in Cotham Hill.

Nobody was hurt during the chimney fire but the firm was found to have a lack of effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of fire safety preventative and protective measures. There was also a failure to ensure there was appropriate fire detection equipment.

The microbrewery was fined a total of £120,000 plus £12,000 in costs.

Head of Fire Safety, Station Manager Karl Venn said this case shows the fire service will not hesitate in prosecuting when necessary.

While commending the firm for accepting responsibility, Venn said: “All businesses are required to comply with fire safety legislation and while prosecution is considered a last resort, we first and foremost have a duty to keep our communities safe and ensure residents aren’t put at risk.

“Although Brewhouse and Kitchen had a previous good record of fire safety, the substantial fine handed out by the judge in this case should serve as a warning to any business as to how seriously breaches of fire safety law are taken.”

In a statement, Brewhouse and Kitchen said: “There has been a wholesale change of the company’s operations team, new systems and processes are now in place, and the company has taken significant learning from this matter. Brewhouse and Kitchen has an excellent record to date on all matters of fire safety, licensing, health and safety and food hygiene.

“The mistakes that were found in this case have already driven senior management focus and substantial, positive changes as to how the company manages fire safety. However, on this occasion the company recognises it could have done better and fully accepts its responsibility in this matter.”

ITV News
February 2021

We have been given the opportunity for members to attend an ASEAN Food & Drink Exporters Forum. The event will be held from 9.00am to 10.30am GMT on Thursday 25 March with six speakers that are either Director’s or Senior Executives of renowned food and beverage distribution businesses in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. The event promises insights directly from leading Food and Beverage importers and distributors in ASEAN export markets and receive up to date market updates from the gatekeepers of the F&B sectors in six of the major ASEAN markets.

For more information about the event please visit  www.exportincite.com/products/asean-event-25mar.

The cost for the event is £29.00 however for the first three members who register for the event it will be free of charge. To obtain the discount code please contact Jilly Wallis

In September last year the federation submitted a consultation on behalf of its members to HM Treasury to raise concerns over the reforms to red diesel, this where the rebate on red diesel used in auxiliary engines used to power transport food refrigeration units would be lost as from 1^st April 2022. We outlined that while our members are committed to a greener planet, they thought the removal of entitlement in 2022 was too soon and we mentioned that 2025 would be more realistic. We made the point that the removal of rebates of Red Diesel would make no difference to air quality, as existing systems will continue to operate on White Diesel until new technology has caught up and/or many vehicles and trailers having a 7-10-year lifespan before replacement. New technology such as battery/electric systems is advancing, however, infrastructure at the UK’s distribution centres does not yet exist.

A disappointing development this week is the report published by the treasury 3^rd March which introduces legislation changes including the removal of the red diesel rebate from 1^st April 2022, this includes transport refrigeration used on HGV’s and trailers.

Whilst businesses will need to pay the full duty rate for using white diesel, this measure is expected to incentivise these rebated fuel users to seek to use greener alternatives or use less fuel. Below is a link to the full report:

Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It is thought that the new super-deduction announced also on 3^rd March could be used to cut a companies’ tax bill by 25p for every pound when investing in new equipment and hopefully refrigeration equipment/upgrades. This scheme is worth around £25 billion to UK companies over a two-year period and will be in full effect after 1^st April 2021. See link on new tax relief on capital investment:

New temporary tax reliefs on qualifying capital asset investments from 1 April 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The below link make reference to the original BFFF members response on behalf of its members (see page 23).

Summary_of_responses_to_the_red_diesel_consultation.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

How to avoid delays at border control posts (BCPs)

While there has been a reduction in both the number of vehicles stopped at EU BCPs and the time taken to process them, there are still reports of many non-compliant exports.

The Government are working closely with the EU Commission and individual BCPs to resolve documentation issues.

Exporters’ BCP checklist

1) Prepare the paperwork for your exports as early as possible.

2) You need a customs agent based in the EU, who is local to the port you are using.

3) Ensure your goods travel through a point of entry with a BCP that’s able to process your consignment.

4) Your importer or agent must notify the BCP of the arrival of your goods as part of the pre-notification process.

Useful links

• To find an EU BCP that can take your goods click here
• For a step-by-step guide to exporting goods from the UK to the EU, click here.

You need an Economic Operators Registration and Identification number (EORI number) if you move goods:

• between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or the Isle of Man and any other country (including the EU)
• between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• between Great Britain and the Channel Islands
• between Northern Ireland and countries outside the EU Continue reading “Economic Operators Registration and Identification numbers (EORI number)”