What is dynamic alignment?
Dynamic alignment means having a single rule book on the agreed areas of law in scope of the agreement which we are waiting for the UK and EU to start negotiating.聽
The UK has agreed to dynamically align with the EU on sanitary, phytosanitary, food safety, general consumer protection rules applicable to the production, distribution and consumption of agri-food products, the regulation of live animals and pesticides, the rules on organics as well as marketing standards applicable to certain sectors or products.
In return for dynamic alignment to EU rules, both parties will remove the need for export health certificates, phytosanitary certificates, certificates of inspection for organics, certain marketing standards certification requirements, border checks and the resumption of trade in banned British products (eg, seed potatoes, sausages, burgers) and live animal trade (for breeding).
Implementation period聽
One way to manage dynamically aligning with EU rules would be to agree transitional arrangements so that businesses and regulators have sufficient time to transition to the EU rules depending on the policy area and its degree of divergence.
When the UK left the EU, a transition period was included starting on the date the UK formally left (31 January 2020) and lasting until 31 December 2020.聽
The agricultural sectors have been impacted by Brexit differently and since leaving the EU, they have registered various degrees of active/passive regulatory divergence from EU rules. This context influences the sectors鈥� views on the length of any such transition period.聽
皇家华人is seeking a transitional arrangement and is preparing a roadmap to identify timelines for progress towards dynamic alignment.
How does it affect me and what is the NFU doing?
We understand technical discussions are being held to identify the substance of the agreement with the EU, what is in scope, what is out of scope and the ability to have limited exemptions to dynamic alignment, known as 鈥渃arve outs鈥�.
Until negotiations with the EU have concluded and the necessary legislative changes are introduced into UK law, the current arrangements remain in place. We understand that the more 鈥渃arve outs鈥� the UK asks for, the longer the negotiations are likely to last.
皇家华人and BAB continue to engage with the government, the Commission and relevant UK and EU stakeholders to advocate for a deal that works for our members and supports UK food production.
Select the relevant section below to find out how the negotiations will affect your business:
