Customs and Excise

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Ceisteanna (2156)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

2156. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement that he has had with a group (details supplied) pursuant to the recent decision to concentrate border custom port controls for agri-food and related products at Dublin Airport, or in the case of sea/road freight, Rosslare Euro Port; the analysis that his Department has carried out into the impact of discontinuing this service at Shannon Airport; the reason behind the decision to discontinue this service at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44299/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department operates four border control posts (BCP), at Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport, Dublin Port and Rosslare Euro Port.  Their purpose is to carry out official controls on consignments of goods which require sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)  checks when they first enter the EU.

There has been no decision taken to concentrate border control SPS checks for agri-food related products at Dublin Airport or Rosslare Euro Port.  It is a legal requirement under European law that all goods which require SPS checks when first entering the EU must undergo same at the BCP of first entry to the Union. Officials from my department are in constant engagement with the relevant stakeholders involved in such imports to the EU, to make them aware of these legal requirements.

Products which arrive to the EU at Dublin Airport must be checked at the BCP there and products which arrive at Rosslare must be checked at Rosslare Europort. 

Shannon Airport BCP remains fully operational and is available to perform official controls on SPS products that enter the EU at Shannon airport.