Organisations from across the UK food industry have spoken out about the government’s plans to further delay the introduction of import controls on EU goods.
The delay recently announced by the government will affect the introduction of full SPS checks and the introduction of certification for imports from the EU. The government statement said that no further import controls on EU goods will be introduced this year and businesses can stop their preparations for July for now.
A new regime of border import controls, the Target Operating Model, will be published in the Autumn and will target the end of 2023 as a new introduction date. The controls that have already been introduced will remain in place.
Those exporting goods from the UK to EU have faced costly and time-consuming checks on goods since the end of Brexit transition in January 2021. The UK government has postponed introducing similar checks on goods entering the UK from the EU for a fourth time, handing what a range of commentators have described as a competitive advantage to other food-producing nations, that will now stretch to over three years.
A double edged sword
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said that, after months of uncertainty, it is “relieved to have the clarity that border checks will not now be implemented on 1st July.”
It added, however, that the decision is “a real double edged sword for British businesses.” BMPA said: “On the one hand it makes importing the one quarter of food that stocks UK supermarket shelves cheaper and easier to get into the country. But this comes with risks.”
Unacceptable
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called the government’s decision not to implement the planned controls on imported food and agricultural products “unacceptable” and said it will result in “another significant blow” for British farm businesses already facing unprecedented rising costs.
NFU president Minette Batters said: “It is astounding that the government is taking such an unacceptable approach to critical checks for agri-food imports from the EU. These checks are absolutely crucial to the nation’s biosecurity, animal health and food safety and without them we really do leave ourselves at risk.
“For the introduction of these checks to have been delayed three times was bad enough but to now have them essentially scrapped in favour of an unknown system is unacceptable.”
She added: “This is a question of fairness. Our producers have to meet stringent controls to export their own products abroad, all while being left at a continued competitive disadvantage to our EU competitors, who are still enjoying an extended grace period which gives them access to the prized UK market relatively cost and burden free.”
Level of incompetence
NFU Scotland has described plans as ‘utter madness’. President Martin Kennedy said: “The prolonged failure of the UK government to place UK food exporters on an even keel with those exporting goods to the UK from Europe shows an astonishing level of incompetence and failure to support Scottish producers and our food and drink sector. They are now proposing to kick the can down the road for a further 18 months with the intention of introducing a ‘digital solution’ that hasn’t even been created let alone trialled.”
He added: “It is estimated that, for those looking to export Scottish beef, lamb or pork to Europe, Brexit and new cross-border checks have added an additional six percent to our costs – a cost that those looking to export similar goods here from Europe do not have to face due to government failing to introduce similar controls.”
