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Border check readinesss: Defra denials fail to convince Logistics UK

[ April 19, 2024   //   ]

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has issued a statement denying press reports that checks on imports from the EU were to be delayed and would start as planned from 30 April.

It said the UK government has full confidence that the facilities, infrastructure and systems at the border will be ready for the implementation date.

It added that the priority for physical checks from day one will be on the highest risk goods, and Port Health authorities will be conducting documentary checks on consignments of all risk levels. “Checks will be scaled up to full check levels in a sensible and controlled way,” it said.

Taking a pragmatic approach to introducing the new checks would minimise disruption, said Defra. It added: “We are confident we have sufficient capacity and capability across all points of entry to handle the volume and type of expected checks.”

However, Nichola Mallon, head of trade and devolved policy at Logistics UK, countered: “Our members do not share the government’s confidence that facilities, infrastructure and systems at the border will be ready for the new checks due to come into effect in two weeks’ time for foods and other items from the EU.

“As well as serious concerns about the cumulative cost of all these new processes on SMEs in particular, fundamental questions remain about the capabilities of the government’s facilities to process loads containing food and other perishable goods efficiently and at pace. Any delays can ruin fresh produce, making it worthless and this could cause breaks in the UK’s interconnected supply chain.

“Further urgent clarification is needed from government on the exact timeline as to when physical checks will be scaled up and whether the common user charge will also be applied in a phased approach.  

“Thriving trade requires certainty, stability and simple and affordable border processes, all of which we have been pressing government on for some time. Instead, and despite their best efforts to prepare over several years, our members continue to face chaos as a result of ongoing uncertainty and confusion from government. With only two weeks remaining until the government’s own deadline for introducing these checks, logistics businesses deserve clarity on how they are to continue to operate effectively to protect the UK’s supply chain.”

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