The European Union on Oct. 4 published a directive outlining procedures for the movement of certain foods and feeds, plants and animals from ports of entry to their destination within the EU. The new directive replaces rules set in the 1990s that were repealed by an overhaul of the EU’s border control scheme in 2017, effective in December 2019. Under the new procedures, border authorities may only authorize the transport of a shipment to the establishment at the place of destination indicated in the Common Health Entry Document associated with the shipment. The operator responsible for the establishment at the place of destination must notify the relevant inspection authority within one day of the shipment’s arrival at its destination. A lack of notification within 15 days of authorization of transport will cause an official investigation, which may result in enforcement action against the operator responsible for the consignment. The directive takes effect Dec. 14.

In the Oct. 2 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

The European Union announced the start of negotiations with five African nations, known as the Eastern and Southern Africa, or ESA, partners, to expand on an existing Economic Partnership Agreement, the European Commission said in an Oct. 2 press release. The EU wants to broaden the initial deal, signed in 2009 and provisionally applied since 2012, to create a comprehensive trade agreement with Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe, the press release said. The new deal should cover technical barriers to trade and intellectual property rights, the EU said. In a statement, Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the EU is “fully behind this important endeavour,” which will “boost bilateral trade and investment flows and will contribute to the creation of jobs and further economic growth in our respective regions.”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson says there will be “customs checks” between Ireland and Northern Ireland after the U.K. leaves the European Union, but that won’t be in the form of “infrastructure checks or controls at the border,” according to a BBC report. It wouldn’t even include customs posts set five or 10 miles back, he said. Johnson has said he will move forward with Brexit with or without a deal on Oct. 31, despite the passage of legislation in parliament that requires him to seek an extension if a transition deal hasn’t been approved by then (see 1909090056). U.K. Brexit minister James Duddridge says the government will be putting out more detail in the coming days on its plans for the Irish border, the BBC said in its report. “Leaked proposals” say the customs controls would be conducted away from the border, mostly where goods originate or at their final destination, the BBC said.

In the Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 editions of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

South Korea will allow for beef imports from some EU states after a nearly 20-year ban was lifted, the European Commission said in a news release. "Producers from Denmark and the Netherlands are the first ones to be able to resume exports," it said. “This is a very welcome development and an important statement of confidence by the South Korean authorities in the safety and quality of European beef," said Phil Hogan, commissioner for agriculture and the next commissioner for trade. "Following confirmation of access for Danish and Dutch operators, I hope that it won't be long before operators in other EU Member States are approved for export to this important and valuable market. Securing access for other EU Member States will continue to be a priority for the European Commission in bilateral trade relations with Korea.” South Korea had imposed the restrictions as a result of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in 2001. South Korean authorities recently "provided assurances that the pending applications from EU Member States (others than Denmark and the Netherlands) would be processed in due time," the EC said.

In the Sept. 27 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

In the Sept. 26 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

A top Japanese official asked Britain to avoid a no-deal Brexit scenario, saying it would hurt Japanese companies. “Japanese companies have great concerns and would like to avoid ‘leave without agreement,’” Isshu Sugawara, Japan’s trade minister, told the U.K.’s international trade minister during a recent meeting, according to an unofficial translation of a Sept. 25 press release.

The United Kingdom's Department for International Trade issued a Sept. 24 guidance on export controls for dual-use goods, software and technology, goods used for torture and “radioactive sources.” The guidance covers which dual-use items require export licenses, and provides information on nuclear exports and chemical exports, and how they may be impacted by sanctions, embargoes and trade restrictions.