By Denis Sheehan, Friday 31 January 2021
From New Year’s Day 2022, hospitality businesses that buy food, drink, and other products from the EU will face increased delays and costs to continue doing so.
EU exporters to the UK from that date will have to additionally process mountains of red tape to continue sales after 1 January when delayed post-Brexit checks and controls are implemented. Exporters will have to ‘pre-lodge’ new paperwork with the correct local and EU authorities prior to any goods being despatched from any of the 27 EU member states to every UK border entry point.
Post-Brexit checks were initially due to come into force on 1 January 2021, negotiations saw delays until July, then extend to October, but now they finally and fully come into force on New Year’s Day 2022.
The new laws potentially exclude Northern Ireland but the ongoing ‘talks’ on the Northern Ireland protocol leave ‘interpretations’ and any subsequent implementation processes unclear.
EU logistics businesses will be required to have completed documentation of all goods due for export to the UK prior to departure. On arrival in the UK HMRC will examine said documentation and then decide whether they will be free to fully enter and be distributed in the UK.
Declarations in relation to the rules of origin must be completed to determine whether tariffs are applicable. EU suppliers of agri-food products into Britain will additionally be required to pre-notify the authorities of any exports.
In July 2022 further paperwork relating to all products of animal and plant origin will additionally require export health and phytosanitary certificates.
If HMRC weren’t busy enough already from Brexit on New Year’s Day 2021… HMRC have projected customs declarations needing to be processed at UK borders next year will increase from 48 million to an eye watering 250 million.
With all 27 EU member states having 26 less cumbersome trading partners where none of this added bureaucracy is required, how many will persevere with Brexit Britain?
Health minister reassures hospitality of no need for further support as venues are “pretty full”
