The United Kingdom and Balsamic Vinegar

The United Kingdom and Balsamic Vinegar, the effect of Brexit.

This 2021 has started not only with Covid-19, which continues its spread undaunted. Also with the official exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, on the 1st of January 2021. The combination of these two events involves huge all-round consequences between the different sectors. The one of balsamic vinegar is not an exception. Regarding the United Kingdom and Balsamic Vinegar question, the president of the Consortium for the Protection of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, Mariangela Grosoli, affirms:

“The small family businesses that have always invested in the positioning of the produced on the HoReCa channel, in wine shops and food delicacies shops. They have suffered the greatest damage from this pandemic, with the prolonged closures provided for in the DPCM. Not only in Italy, but also abroad. One of the most difficult markets to recover, even once the pandemic emergency is over, is the United Kingdom, which has officially left the EU since 1 January 2021 “.

The primary effect on small and medium-sized enterprises is the inability to survive in such adverse conditions. Furthermore, the change in legislation introduced with the exit of the United Kingdom weighs not only on Italian producers. Also on British importers. In fact, the bureaucratic complications involved with importing represent a significant obstacle, discouraging the demand for Italian products in the United Kingdom. In England, 26% of total imports are represented by the agri-food sector. Of this percentage, 5% is equivalent to the exports of the production of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (link).

Concerning the United Kingdom and Balsamic Vinegar,

The Consortium for the Protection of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena has decided to give concrete support. The Director Federico Desimoni organized a Webinar to inform the Consortium Members about the new aspects of dealing with both regarding customs procedures and product labelling.

“We are facing a great change – he says -. Trade exchanges with Great Britain will once again be regulated, not by EU legislation, but by international law. The first changes, those of a customs nature. They have already entered into force even though their “enforcement” should not be particularly pressing until July. From that date on, operators will have to comply fully with the provisions of international law.

Another important date is the 30th of September 2022. This is the last day of application of European food law or all those regulations on labelling and food safety. Starting from October, the general principle of international law will also apply to Great Britain, which provides for the need for those who export a product to comply with the regulations in force in the country in which it is marketed. We hope that the provisions that Great Britain will adopt to replace the Community ones currently in force (until 30.9.2022) also at an internal level, will not present substantial or significant differences. In all ways, the Consortium  will continue to accompany producers in the information and adoption process relating to all legislative and operational innovations “.

We hope the UK vs. Balsamic Vinegar issue comes to a positive and prosperous ending. An Italian excellence of this calibre deserves to be present on tables all over the world!

Greetings from Modena!