As part of Brexit preparations, the UK Department of Agriculture are preparing to hire new staff trained in sanitary and phytosanitary controls. This is in anticipation of a rise in border checks on products to and from the UK.
The Department of Agriculture are to recruit 116 staff in 2019 who will be responsible for carrying out checks on animals and food products at Irish borders. Arrangements are currently being put in place to commence the recruitment process.
In response to a parliamentary question, Minister Michael Creed said it was phase one of a planned recruitment period for border control staff until 2021. He also said it was important to ensure that “arrangements are in place to facilitate rapid transit of product via the UK land bridge between Ireland and other Member States”.
Source: farmersjournal.ie