James Davey
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain began physical checks on fresh food imported from the European Union on Tuesday, about three years after it left the bloc’s single market and eight years after it voted to leave the EU.
While large UK supermarkets and large EU exporting businesses have the resources to complete paperwork and meet the new requirements, smaller retailers and wholesalers have warned of delays and disruption and said consumers should expect a reduced range of quality goods, less fresh produce and higher prices.
On January 31, the first stage of the so-called new UK border control operating model came into force, requiring additional certification.
The second phase began Tuesday, involving physical checks at ports of so-called “medium risk” animal, plant and plant products such as meat, fish, cheese, eggs, dairy products and some cut flowers. New charges were also filed.
The Government says the new checks, which include visual inspection and temperature measurements of goods, are needed to prevent diseases and pests from entering the UK and will level the playing field for UK exporters.
“It is vital that we introduce these global, risk-based checks to improve the UK’s biosecurity,” Cabinet Office minister Lucy Neville-Rolfe said.
“We cannot continue to take temporary measures that leave the UK open to disease threats and could cause significant damage to our livelihoods, our economy and our agriculture.”
The UK has repeatedly delayed the introduction of EU import checks. By contrast, the EU immediately put its rules in place, leading to delays at ports in 2021 and prompting some British exporters, such as cheese makers and premium beef farmers, to abandon sales to the bloc, at least initially.
remove advertising
.
The government says it will take a “pragmatic approach” to inspections, prioritizing goods that pose the greatest biosecurity risk and ensuring the smooth flow of imported goods.
But UK lawmakers last week called on the government to provide clarity on the frequency of inspections, saying businesses remained in the dark.
The government estimates its border rules will increase costs for importers by a combined 330 million pounds ($413 million) a year and increase food inflation by just 0.2% over three years.
($1 = 0.7983 pounds)