London, UK: The prime minister, Boris Johnson has hinted that physical Brexit border checks on food imports from the EU, due to be introduced in July, are likely to be delayed for the fourth time.
Industry commentators fear European food supplies could collapse.
Boris Johnson, on a visit to India, was asked of this was the case. He said he had not abandoned hope that the Irish Sea border checks could, in time, be moved to the Northern Ireland border with the Republic of Ireland, something that was rejected during the four years of negotiations over the UK’s divorce from the EU.
“New technology will make some of the checks we have obsolete. That leads me on to the long-term solution to the border of Northern Ireland and the Republic, but that’s another matter,” he told reporters.
Sanitary and phytosanitary checks have been operational in all EU border countries including France, Belgium and Ireland since the Brexit withdrawal agreement was implemented on 1 January 2021.
The cliff-edge approach left exporters of fish and other fresh food in chaos with a lack of customs agents and veterinary staff to certify whether the produce complied with EU standards.
But in the UK, post-Brexit checks on fresh food were not implemented for imports, being pushed back in 2020 and on two occasions in 2021.
Under the current border plan, physical checks on meat were due to start on 1 July, dairy on 1 September and all remaining foods including fish and composite foods subject to checks from 1 November.
The government confirmed this timetable was “under careful review” amid concerns about the impact on household supplies.
One industry source said the biggest risk from the new Brexit checks was the “collapse of the supply chain” because of a shortage of vets to certify produce before it can be put on a ferry to Britain. There is also a fear that red tape and new costs will cause some small suppliers to give up on the UK market.
There can be no surprise at rumours of a further delay to the introduction of post-Brexit border checks, the UK freight association said.
It said: “Equally, in light of the suggestion that the delay might even be until new technology is in place that will enable the government to deliver on its promise to create ‘the world’s most effective border’ by 2025, the freight sector will not be holding its breath.
Robert Keen, director general, British International Freight Association said that the period since the Brexit referendum in 2016 has been characterised by changes and delays in the procedures via which trade is conducted between the UK and the EU.
The government’s track record on developing new systems is littered with delays, which has been seen during the development of the new Customs Declaration Service, transition to which had been scheduled for the start of 2021, he said.
“Over the last several years, BIFA has queried the robustness of government policies and primary legislation; and criticised procedures and guidance, which often do not reflect the reality of trade flows,” Keen said.
“To hear that the goalposts may move once again, is another kick in the face to those BIFA members that have made huge investments in staff and resources to meet the deadlines established by the Border Operating Model. Each change of direction, or postponement, makes it difficult for them to justify that investment, or take any notice of BIFA’s advice and encouragement to make the necessary preparations.
“BIFA members have demonstrated their commitment to provide logistics support for a significant amount of the trade between the EU and UK, despite often seeing policies being introduced with no consultation and little regard for how trade works in reality.”
The trade association also says that since the Border Protocol Delivery Group has ceased co-ordinating EU Exit preparations, it has become increasingly concerned at the apparent lack of a cohesive approach from central government to planning and managing frontier processes.
