Reading, UK: Cold Chain Federation chief executive Phil Pluck has spoken to I-news, highlighting rising concerns over the proposed Border Target Operating Model, due to be introduced at the end of April. Pluck told the inews that the changes will lead to wastage, extra costs and food shortages on shelves.
“It may be that consignments are rejected,” Pluck said. “If that is the case, you are looking at vast amounts of wastage, at EU producers who won’t want to import to the UK and hauliers who will be wondering who is going to take on the cost of the wasted product in the back of the lorry. And finally, you are looking at retailers who will never receive that product in order to put it on shelves. All in all, it’s not a great picture.”
In March the Cold Chain Federation wrote to Defra secretary Steve Barclay to warn that the changes planned will jeopardise the UK’s food supply chain and increase food prices for consumers.
The Federation’s letter asks Barclay to ensure that the government takes a series of actions urgently to help mitigate the impacts for the food supply chain and consumers, and to minimise the threat to the UK’s food security.
