The FSA has released guidance on health and identification marks that must be applied to food products of animal origin (POAO) after the end of the Transition Period. The guidance is for enforcement authorities and UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) food businesses that produce POAO.

This guidance outlines the requirements that will enable businesses within the UK producing POAO to place their goods on the Great Britain (GB), Northern Ireland (NI), EU and non-EU markets from the 1^st January 2021. There will be further guidance for placing goods on the Northern Ireland Market.

Changes to health and identification marks

At 11pm on 31^st December 2020 the current ‘UK/EC’ health and identification mark applied to POAO produced in the UK can no longer be used. New health and identification marks must be used after this date for POAO produced and placed on the GB or NI market or exported outside of the UK.

Adjustment period for changes to identification marks

Legislation in England, Wales and Scotland is being proposed to allow for a 21-month adjustment period for goods placed on the GB market, reducing the impact of the change in requirements for identification marks. The adjustment period will start on 1^st January 2021 and run until 30^th September 2022.

This will give UK businesses the opportunity to deplete existing stock of packaging or labels carrying the ‘UK/EC’ identification mark owned by the FBO at the end of the transition period. Businesses are encouraged to adopt the new markings as soon as possible once the transition period comes to an end and the adjustment period is not intended to enable businesses to replenish stock carrying the ‘UK/EC’ mark.

The 21-month adjustment period is only available to UK food businesses for POAO placed on the market in Great Britain. It is not applicable to POAO produced in GB and NI for placing on the EU or non-EU markets. There will be further guidance on placing POAO on the NI Market published soon.

Products placed on the market before the end of the EU Transition Period

If your UK business places POAO on a market before the end of the transition period, it will reach the end user using the existing health and identification marks.

• POAO placed on the market in Great Britain before the end of the transition period can reach the end user on the GB market, including circulation within GB, without re-labelling.
• POAO placed on the market in the EU before the end of the transition period can reach the end user on the EU market without re-labelling.
• POAO moved into the EU and Northern Ireland markets from Great Britain after the end of the transition period will require re-labelling to meet new requirements.
• POAO placed on the market in Northern Ireland before the end of the transition period, can reach the end user on either the UK or EU markets, without the need for re-labelling.

For more guidance on Health and Identification Marks or to see examples, click here