United Kingdom – Brexit and Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement

At 11pm GMT 31 January 2020 (10am AEDT 1 February), the United Kingdom (UK) formally ceased to be a member state of the European Union (EU) – commonly referred to as ‘Brexit’. We have been taking steps to minimise disruptions arising from Brexit for Australian agricultural producers. The Australian Government is:

Bilateral agreements

Arrangements already in place between Australia and the EU for wine and other exports continue to apply to the UK post-Brexit.

On 18 January 2019, Australia and the UK signed two bilateral agreements taking effect on 1 January 2021:

  1. Agreement on Trade in Wine between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  2. Agreement on Mutual Recognition in Relation to Conformity Assessment, Certificates and Markings between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

UK export conditions and requirements

The Government has been working closely with industry to ensure Australian agricultural exporters can continue to export to the UK.

Animals and Products of Animal Origin (POAO)

  • UK health certificates will be required from 1 January 2021. However, the UK will continue to accept EU model export health certificates until at least 30 June 2021.
  • The UK is rolling-over EU approved establishment listings and countries approved to import live animals and animal products into the UK.
  • Further information can be found on the UK’s website.

Organics

  • The UK is rolling over EU organics legislation.
  • From 1 January 2021, a Great Britain Certificate of Inspection (CoI) will be required for entry into Great Britain.
  • Further information can be found on the UK’s website.

Plant products

  • There are no operational changes for plant imports from non-EU countries from 1 January 2021.

Wine

  • Import and certification requirements (incl. use of the EU VI-1 certificate) for Australian wine into Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) will not change until 1 October 2021.
  • EU labelled wines will be accepted in Great Britain until 30 September 2022.
  • Further information can be found on the UK’s website.

Tariff-rate quotas

As of 1 January 2021, the UK and EU 'split' existing agricultural WTO tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) between the UK and EU-27. This includes Australia's country specific quotas for beef, buffalo, sheep and goat meat, cheese, sugar and rice.

The Australian Government engaged with the UK and the EU intensively with a view to amend the initially proposed splits. As a result, the Australian Government has reached agreement with the EU and in-principle agreement with the UK on amended splits, and will be working with both sides to ensure the new agreed arrangements are implemented in a timely manner.

As of 1 January 2021, the UK and EU’s initially proposed ‘splits’ take effect and export quota arrangements will be managed on that basis. Further changes will be made to reflect the new agreed arrangements with the UK and the EU . The Australian Government continues to consult closely with affected industries and is working to ensure a smooth transition for Australian exporters.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is making changes to the administration of the EU TRQs for which Australia manages (beef, sheepmeat, buffalo and cheese) to reflect the ‘split’ of TRQs.

Find out more about export quotas.

More information

Find out more about Brexit and the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement


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