Fifth delay to EU food border checks
The UK Government has announced that post-Brexit checks on EU imported food and food products have been delayed for a fifth time and pushed back to end January 2024, however, with over a third of EU exporters unprepared, it may be a wise move.
Prior to the latest deferral, checks had been rescheduled to start in October, however the Government has claimed that its decision to give businesses three more months to prepare followed engagement with industry.
The Cold Chain Federation (CCF) had previously written to ministers, to share a survey’s findings, that 39% of responding EU food producing businesses, supplying customers in the UK were unaware of the new rules and specifically requested that the October implementation be moved back to the 31st January 2024
When the checks are activated, they will included imported food products from the EU, as well as plant and animal products.
As well as the imported fresh-food checks being pushed back to 31st January 2024, there will also be an additional three months before there are sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on medium-risk food, animal and plant products.
Despite rumours of a delay circulating since the beginning of August, the government only ended the uncertainty for businesses at the end of the month, announcing a three-month delay to the health certificates required for imports.
The British Retail Consortium said most retailers would welcome the delay, but warned that the government had to reassure EU exporters that the checks would be enforced in 2024 after five successive delays, so that they would thoroughly prepare for January and April checks in the belief that controls will be implemented.
However, the National Farmers Union has lobbied consistently against further postponement to border checks on EU imports, arguing that it is unfair to British producers, who have had to endure checks on food exports to the bloc since January 2021, while their EU competitors face no such checks.
The governmental is under pressure to deliver an effective communications campaign that will make EU-based businesses aware that Brexit is in fact still not done and they have to invest in the processes necessary to sell to UK customers from early next year.
The CCF survey found that 78% of EU businesses believed costs will increase to their UK customers as a result of the new border checks, and while 60% said they planned to continue servicing UK customers after implementation, 10% had planned to reduce frequency and 7% planned to stop altogether.
Shippers will face yet more changes in October 2024, when new safety and security declarations for EU imports will come into force.
With the regulations for imports of foodstuffs from the EU remaining unchanged for a further three months, there is additional time to ensure your suppliers are ready for the changeover and keep your supply chains running freely.
We can guide you on the new import border check processes, help you to educate your suppliers and ensure your documentary needs are fully compliant.
To learn how we can help you can contact our customs expert, Michelle Redman directly – EMAIL Michelle