On 30^th March, the BFFF attended the weekly session of the Defra led NI-GB Food Supply Chain Forum, the first that had taken place since the  Windsor Framework  was formally adopted by the UK and EU in a meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee (WAJC).

At the WAJC meeting, both sides agreed to work together intensively and faithfully to implement all elements of the Windsor Framework and reaffirmed their intent to use all available mechanisms in the Framework to address and jointly resolve any relevant future issues that may emerge. The decision made by the WAJC can be found here.

Defra have assured us that having reached this critical point, now means that many of the questions posed to them in recent weeks, may start to be answered.

They are now in the process of reviewing questions from all stakeholder groups and compiling a comprehensive Q&A document on the Windsor Framework. Once they are in a position to do so, they have promised they will share the Q&A with us as a pdf for circulation amongst our members.

Allowing for the Easter break, the next session of the NI-GB Food Supply Chain Forum is due to take place on the Thursday 13^th April.

Should members have any questions they wish to pose, then please send them to deniserion@bfff.co.uk and we will ensure they are tabled. Note – due to the sheer volume of people and questions on the call, it may not be possible to pose your questions verbally. Therefore, please ensure they are as short and precise as possible to allow us to pose them in the chat function if necessary.

Alternatively, you can email any urgent export questions or questions about Export Health Certificates (EHCs) directly to APHA at Exports@APHA.gov.uk .

Or questions/comments can be submitted directly to NIGBFoodSupplyChainForum@defra.gov.uk .

And any HMRC enquiries can be sent directly to nistakeholderengagementteam@hmrc.gov.uk