As of from yesterday (September 1st) the Irish government has implemented a new EU requirement change for the importation of certain plant produce and used machinery into the Community under Annex V of Council Directive 2000/29/EC.

What does all this mean? Basically, it is another step towards preparing for Brexit. Before September the 1st this rule applied to countries outside the EU. The requirement is there to protect countries within the EU against the introduction, from countries outside of the EU (third countries), into the Community of organisms harmful to plant or plant products and against their spread within the Community. When the UK leaves the EU on October the 31st next, Great Britain will be classified as a third country.

According to a Trader Notice issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the new regulations for used machinery, which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes, require that, prior to export, the equipment is cleaned to remove any soil or plant debris. It must then be subject to an official inspection by the exporting country’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) to certify, by issuance of a phytosanitary certificate, that it complies with EU import requirements.

Specifically for Irish businesses, these new regulations will apply to the UK once it leaves the EU, regardless of whether there is a deal or not. There would have to be a specific, separate treaty established between the EU and the UK for these rules not to apply to the UK post-Brexit.

You can find out more information about this new regulation by contacting plantandpests@agriculture.gov.ie or by phoning 01 5058885.

With regard to new machinery sales into Ireland from the UK the rules of trade may not be as clear-cut after October the 31st.

Talks are ongoing between the Irish and UK governments about creating an ‘All Ireland’ trade deal for agricultural produce sold between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Will this deal also apply to machinery used in agriculture and, just as importantly, machinery used in horticulture? Only time will tell. Many dealers in Northern Ireland are quite concerned on what the future holds when they sell farm and garden equipment into the Republic. Likewise dealers in the Republic also have concerns.

I hope common sense will prevail between the two governments and that a hard border will be avoided between Northern and Southern Ireland. Having borders re introduced would be a terrible outcome. One thing is sure though, you can expect more rules and regulations to follow.

Staying on matters economical, many machinery and equipment manufacturers have released their 2nd quarter trading results and most have shown a decrease in profits and/or income, compared to the same period last year. Is this the sign of an oncoming recession? We will have to wait for third quarter results (from September onwards) to say for certain. Now, more than ever, is the time to hang on to your existing customers and keep working hard to gain new ones.