Fines and reporting hotline planned for cross-border food deliveries post-Treaty

Strict penalties and an anonymous reporting hotline will be set up for anyone attempting cross border food delivery services when the new Treaty comes into effect.

This is according to the Government’s new business FAQs on the implementation of the Treaty.

The guidance says food delivered from a restaurant or takeaway in Spain to an address in Gibraltar would be treated as commercial goods.

This means it would have to comply with import requirements, be presented to Customs, and be accompanied by the appropriate documentation.

The Government says this would not be viable within the time-frame expected by customers, given that takeaway food is intended to be consumed immediately.

The FAQs also say the Government is aware operators in Spain may be tempted to circumvent the rules by placing deliveries in the boot of an unmarked motorcycle or car, and crossing the border as ordinary travellers.

It says Gibraltar is under a Treaty obligation to prevent this, and that steps will include strict penalties and anonymous reporting channels for members of the public.

The guidance is likely to be welcomed by local hospitality businesses concerned about being undercut by non-compliant cross-border operators.

More broadly, the Government says it does not expect any additional customs or administrative burdens specifically for the hospitality sector.

It also confirms that foodstuffs, non-alcoholic beverages, animal feed, seeds, plants, food ingredients and water will benefit from a super-reduced transaction tax rate of zero percent.

On food standards, the FAQs say food products already in free circulation in the EU will be presumed compliant with EU rules.

Food imported from outside the EU, including from the UK, will need to comply with EU rules before being placed on the Gibraltar market.