By Angela Green: Full Brexit border checks implemented today adding further woe to economy.
Following three years of political delay today is the day that sees the introduction of physical checks on animal and plant imports coming into the UK from the EU. Despite government’s hollow rhetoric promising Brexit benefits today’s initiation of new bureaucracy will see significant additional cost to importers, resulting in increases to prices consumers pay for hospitality.
For operators this also adds further cost, which inevitably will need to be passed on, but within the current economic landscape is easily said and difficult to execute. The cost of doing business crisis today sees further pressure added to burden consumers with, who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
The New Checks
Today’s new regime sees checks brought in by the EU when the UK left the single market in January 2021 applied to trade in the opposite direction. The second stage of government’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) plan.
The first phase, initiated earlier this year at the end of on January, introduced new requirements that saw meat, dairy and plant products requiring a health certificate before they can enter the UK.
The second phase, starting today is more stringent and exacting, HGVs from the EU will be stopped and inspected at border control points at ports across the country.
Three Risk Groups
- Low Risk Products: Mainly processed food goods, will receive no checks, and require no health certification.
- Medium Risk Products: This category includes eggs, dairy, meat and cut flowers.
- High Risk Products: Crops and plants for planting, live animals, all will need certification and be subject to checks.
Checks were originally planned to inspect only about 30% of medium risk goods, while 100% of high-risk products would receive full inspections.
But, as with so many governmental plans, it seems funding and resources are scarce and as such will not be robust.
To limit border checks government will now only address the very highest risk products, relying on ‘intelligence’ indicators including country of origin and the potential disruption levels at the border.
So, we have new rules that are selectively followed dependant upon fluid circumstances for the time being, with government spokespeople saying the new regulations will be fully implemented in future, with no date alongside that promise.
The government has estimated these new border checks will cost businesses and additional £330 million a year, which in turn will increase food inflation by 0.2% across three years. The hollow echo of Brexit benefits continues to haunt businesses and consumers, constantly adding more woe to an already severely damaged economy.
