21 March 2023: UK-Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein FTA Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures 鈥� joint minutes
Published 6 November 2023
漏 Crown copyright 2023
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Joint minutes of the first meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures under the free trade agreement between the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
The first meeting took place on the 21 March 2023 in London.
The UK participants from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Food Standards Agency, and participants from Norway and Iceland had a fruitful exchange of views on matters related to implementation of the聽SPS听颁丑补辫迟别谤.
1.听翱辫别苍颈苍驳 remarks
All parties noted current collaboration and the importance of the relationships between the countries.
2.听础辫辫谤辞惫补濒 and adoption of the agenda and Rules of Procedure
All parties approved the agenda and agreed to follow the Rules of Procedure for the UK-EEA/EFTA Joint Committee mutatis mutandis based on mutual understanding.
3.听翱谤驳补苍颈蝉补迟颈辞苍补濒 structure and distribution of responsibilities between Competent Authorities in the field of聽SPS听尘别补蝉耻谤别蝉
All parties provided information on their organisational structures and management of聽SPS听颈蝉蝉耻别蝉.
4.听鲍辫诲补迟别 on the Target Operating Model (TOM) and requirements for health certificates on seafood.
The UK provided an update on the draft Borders Target Operating Model (TOM). When published, the UK would provide more detail on the timeline and implementation. To note: the 鈥楤order Target Operating Model: Draft鈥� consultation document was published on 5 April 2023.
Norway and Iceland highlighted the interest from businesses in the聽TOM. Further discussion and consultation could be provided following publication of the draft聽TOM.
The UK provided additional information on health certificates for seafood, indicating that certification was under review. Further discussion could follow publication of the draft聽TOM.
5.听鲍辫诲补迟别 on e-certification
Once published the draft聽TOM聽would provide a good indication of certification requirements. The UK is committed to digital, and the introduction of e-certification would be via incremental development.
The UK would engage further with partners following the publication of the draft聽TOM.
Norway provided information on its experience with e-certification.聽聽
6.听鲍辫诲补迟别 on the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority Audit report findings
Iceland undertook to respond to the UK鈥檚 queries after the meeting.
7.听颁补濒别苍诲补谤 of the聽SPS听颁辞尘尘颈迟迟别别
All parties decided that if there were no urgent issues then there could be flexibility on the frequency of the committee meetings. The timing of the next meeting would be coordinated via the secretariats from each country.
8.听笔耻产濒颈肠补迟颈辞苍 of minutes
All parties agreed that a condensed version of the minutes could be published.
9.听翱辫别谤补迟颈辞苍补濒 conclusions
The UK summarised the discussions and undertook to circulate the operational conclusions for comment and agreement.
10.听颁濒辞蝉颈苍驳 谤别尘补谤办蝉听
All parties thanked those involved for organising what was a productive and successful meeting.