News article, 29. February 2024
New Brexit requirements: Danish food producers are prepared
New and extensive documentation requirements came into force at the end of January 2024.
New and extensive documentation requirements came into force at the end of January 2024. While the requirements are causing concern in several countries, the head of Danish Crown’s UK operations, Lars Albertsen, and Veterinary Director at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Jens Munk Ebbesen, are of the opinion that Denmark is ready to meet the requirements.
Denmark is ready
The first elements of the UK’s new border control model came into effect at the end of January 2024. The model includes requirements for animal product documentation. This is nothing new for Danish food producers who are well accustomed to meeting the many and varied requirements from third countries.
"In Denmark, we’ve become used to meeting diverse national documentation requirements relating to, for example, food safety and the health rules governing the products of animal origin. Denmark’s tradition for providing the necessary documentation has historically been - and continues to be – a prerequisite for global market access for Danish food products.”
Time will tell whether this experience will prove to be a competitive advantage for companies, but Jens Munk Ebbesen believes that "both the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and Danish companies are in a better situation than seems to be the case in Germany and Poland. Denmark is prepared and has the necessary personel available.”
Danish Crown saw the signs
Danish Crown chose to maintain its sales in the UK post-Brexit. According to Lars Albertsen, Danish Crown stepped up its communication with customers and engaged in regular dialogue as to how the new requirements would be met. "We have done our preparatory work and are now in a strong position. We already provide the requested documentation and should there be gaps in the British market due to the new requirements, we are ready to deliver,” explains Lars Albertsen.
UK: a key market for Danish food exports
With export successes from Danish food producers such as Lurpak and bacon, the UK has become a key market for exports where investments continue to be made. At the end of 2023, Danish Crown opened new production facilities in the UK.
Read more about the new bacon factory in Rochdale here: Danish bacon production site in Rochdale .