The latest EU trade deal is a work in progress, writes CCF deputy chief executive Tom Southall
GB-EU border rules set to change…again
It’s been four and a half years since the first major set of post- Brexit changes impacting the movement of perishable goods between the UK and the European Union came into force.
With the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 1 January 2021, UK exporters faced the transition from a common single market within the EU to new requirements for health certification and physical checks among other new border rules. After a protracted period of delay after delay due to unready infrastructure and concern on the impact on food inflation, the UK finally placed similar requirements on EU exporters in 2024. Aside from some minor amendments that was that: Brexit done. Or was it…?
Since January 2021 the Cold Chain Federation has relentlessly highlighted the plight of our members in trying to navigate the new trading environment. From exporters ceasing to trade, to loads destroyed at border control posts (BCPs) in the UK and France, unacceptable delays at the border and broken systems,
it has been far from plain sailing. On top of these impacts the government faced the unavoidable facts that exports to the UK’s main trading partner have fallen substantially since Brexit (the Food & Drink Federation estimates a 34% drop in food and drink exports) and imports are also down.
A new agreement with the EU
In May this year, Keir Starmer announced he had fulfilled a manifesto promise to renegotiate the post-Brexit deal with the EU. This included an intention to remove the need for most physical goods checks and veterinary health certification – the procedures which have added the most resource, time and cost burdens to GB-EU trade. What was not emphasised enough in the announcement however, was that this was a political agreement, not a fully agreed policy.
Although clearly the intention is there, it is likely to take at least a year, possibly longer, for a full agreement to come into force. Until then it is business as usual for companies who must continue navigating the current border rules until further notice.
It’s good news though, right?
On the face of it, the intention to reduce border bureaucracy is a positive one for businesses and consumers alike. Reduced costs and a streamlined process should encourage trading volumes to increase and slow down food inflation. But it does mean businesses who have just got used to the current system (and possibly employed new personnel to manage it) will soon have to adapt to new changes once again.
Spare a thought too for our crucial UK Ports who invested in major infrastructure such as BCPs to cope with expected checks which have already been drastically reduced from the original agreement and now may not be required at all.
So not for the first time, for importing and exporting businesses in the cold chain we have to accept Brexit is not over quite yet.
Fruit incoming
Hot on the heels of the UK’s agreement with the EU to row back on the need for export health certificates (EHCs) and border checks on most products, the UK government has also scrapped plans for border checks on EU fruit and veg imports which were due to commence on 1 July.
