BREXIT RULES FUEL FOOD SHORTAGE FEARS
New post-Brexit customs rules for goods arriving from the European Union to Britain are taking effect today, and a leading food industry body has warned that the new border controls could lead to food shortages.
Beginning today, importers must make a full customs declaration on goods entering the U.K. from the EU or other countries. Businesses will no longer be allowed to delay completing full import customs declarations for up to 175 days — a measure that was introduced to cope with the disruption of Brexit.
The British Frozen Food Federation said this week that the new restrictions on animal and plant products from the EU could result in major delays at ports in the new year because some in the supply chain — especially logistics companies on the EU side — may not be prepared for the changes.
“We are concerned that not enough planning has been done to ensure the new requirements are understood by everyone in the food supply chain,” said Richard Harrow, the federation’s chief executive.
The new measures require businesses to complete the correct paperwork at least four hours before goods can arrive at U.K. borders, or they risk being turned back at the border. Animal and plant-based products must also have statements of origin certificates.
While drivers must declare their goods and origin certificates, checks are expected to be minimal until the rules ramp up in July, when much stricter checks are expected to come into force.
The U.K. imports five times the amount of food it exports to the EU.