The import and export of meat are two operations that meat companies that want to be successful need to take into account.
Thanks to the import, it is possible to obtain from third parties products that may be scarce in the country of the company that needs to import. Or, also, they can be cheaper when buying them.
The export of products allows national companies to make themselves known in the international market, sending a good or service outside the borders and obtaining a monetary benefit with it.
Any company that wants to increase its competitiveness in the market or sector in which it works. For example, in the case of meat, the company must be an expert in both commercial processes by knowing how they are carried out and what are the legal requirements necessary to carry out these operations successfully.
It must be clear that when talking about exporting and importing meat, we are talking about buying or selling to countries outside the European Union. If the purchase and sale is made within the framework of the countries integrated into the Union, we are talking about the dispatch and introduction of products.
Export of meat: legal requirements
The export of meat, among other foods, is booming and is an important part of the country’s economic engine.
Before exporting meat, it is essential to follow a few steps and carry out an analysis of the product to find out if it is possible to export it to the international market.
This is necessary because in some countries there may be problems or restrictions when selling certain products. It is important to know, in addition to the laws of your own country, those that govern the place where you want to export meat.
Before starting to export, it is necessary to think about whether it will be possible to deal with the number of orders, know the customs requirements, have the necessary transport and have the quality seals of the product.
Once these matters have been taken into account and a commercial deal has been negotiated, it is essential to carry out the legal procedures to start exporting meat.
Procedures to take into account to export
There are procedures that are general when exporting products. It is important to carry out each one of them so that the export is always done within the legal framework, both in the country of origin of the product and in the receiving country.
Therefore, to export meat you need:
Register in the Registry of Foreign Trade Operators, which will allow access to the permits to be able to carry out exports.
SAD. It is a mandatory document that explains the information about the commercial operation and that is used for tax returns.
Previous invoice or proforma. It is used to give the buyer all the information about the product, such as the weight, the number of boxes, expenses derived from transport and other information of interest. This invoice is provisional and only serves as a start for a negotiation.
regular bill. It is a legal document in which all the information about the operation that has been carried out is detailed. It contains the amount of product, prices, taxes, conditions for delivery and the transport to be used.
Contents list. In export it is a document in which the content of the shipment is described. It is important for customs to give the go-ahead to the entry of the merchandise. It also serves as proof to avoid problems in case of loss or damage.
Documentation on the origin of the product. The data of the company that has issued these products.
Transport documentation that allows justifying the state in which the product has reached the recipient.
In the event that any of these requirements are met, the entire meat export and import process could be delayed for days, or even weeks.
Additional procedures to export meat
In addition to the legal procedures, which are common to the export of any type of product, when you have to export meat it is necessary to take into account that there are more procedures to comply with.
These proceedings are within compliance with those established in the Framework List, where all meat export companies must be registered.
The requirements that this list imposes on all those registered on it have to do, in particular, with the health safety of the product.
Some of the procedures to be carried out are the control of contamination hazards and hygiene before, during and at the end of the process. Also the cleaning and disinfection of the facilities, both inside and outside, control of suppliers and maintenance of the cold chain.
Being on the Framework List offers great prestige when it comes to exporting, since only those companies recognized for their excellence at the health level are on it, which gives a lot of security to companies that wish to receive services.
What to know about importing meat
When importing meat to our country, the most important thing to take into account, as in the case of exports, are the sanitary security measures to which attention must be paid.
The import of meat refers to the entry into Spain of this product from a country that is outside the European Union and that complies with health laws, as well as other legal procedures that allow them to sell to other countries; among them, members of the EU.
Essential requirements to import meat
The most important thing to take into account when dealing with meat import companies that are outside the European Union is that they are within the countries approved by the Union to be able to make these sales.
The most important measures when it comes to being able to import meat is that the products have approved all the sanitary controls required by law, which would indicate that their level of hygiene is optimal.
In the case of food packaged at source, for which its subsequent handling is unnecessary, they must be well labeled.
Both the slaughterhouse and the cutting rooms where the meat comes from must be legal and authorized places.
