What effect has Brexit had on UK pet suppliers?

Challenging period

As an international trade association for manufacturers and suppliers of pet care goods and services, PetQuip has seen at close hand the effects that both Brexit and COVID-19 have had on their members’ ability to trade with overseas buyers. It has been a very difficult period, especially with the absence of major trade exhibitions over the past eighteen months.

To gauge the true extent of the challenges and opportunities that have arisen since Britain’s departure from the EU, PetQuip asked some of their members for their views.

Takes more time

Martin Breen is director of pet care at Group55 (with popular brand Animology): “Since Brexit, we have continued to export successfully to EU customers, although the process has been less straightforward than previously. In some cases, it has led to increases in transportation time.”

“Generally, it has been ‘business as usual’, although I would say that is despite Brexit. There has been no obvious benefit. We are continuing to work with our EU customers, but the process is less simple than it was before we left the EU.”

More information needed

Eden Holistic Pet Foods discovered its main postBrexit challenge was finding the information required to complete complex Export Health certificates for its pet products, and sourcing a vet capable and willing to complete the forms.

Megan Watson, trade and export manager of Eden Holistic, said: “We have also had to educate our export customers on the changes and their responsibility with regards to imports, and advise on extended delays due to the paperwork and additional costs of Brexit. Despite the challenges of the current climate, we are still expanding our portfolio of new suppliers as we continue to export our products after Brexit.”

More forms to complete

The Canagan Group reported earlier this year that post-Brexit red tape was causing massive problems. The company’s managing director James Milbourne posted an image on social media, showing 72 pages of documents that need to be completed to send an order to one EU customer. “This is the paperwork required to send one order to the EU now. Previously zero,” he tweeted.

… and extra costs

James Milbourne also said his company was having to pay an additional £100,000 a year (€118,000 / $138,000) in veterinary inspection fees. “This is very annoying and costly for an established business like us. And crippling for a small company,” he added.

The EU remains the most important export market for the majority of PetQuip’s members. Although it has been a challenging trading period, British pet product suppliers are ready to show the EU and the rest of the world their latest innovations.