MPs are calling for clarity after the government announced its sixth pushback on the implementation of post-Brexit border checks on food imports.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee said the news that border checks will be initially set to a rate of zero for all imports was practically the same as a sixth delay “in all but name”, the Financial Times reported.
In a letter to environment secretary Steve Barclay, MPs said: “It is essential [the government] urgently takes steps to communicate the changed arrangements to businesses and the public to build confidence in our incoming border controls and reduce disruption.”
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The scale back on the nature of the inspections on the border comes despite the government’s pledge of a start date of 30 April – a goal that had already been pushed back from when the Border Target Operating Model was first scheduled to be introduced in July 2021.
It is understood that among other fears, the government’s anticipation of border delays due to this new policy prompted them to introduce the new measures gradually and set the rate of checks to “zero for all commodity groups”.
The latest news however may come as a relief to business owners within the food industry, as previous delays have looked to give retailers and port operators additional time to adapt to the new rules.
Under the new post-Brexit import rules, among other items, shipments of products such as meat, dairy and fish that are considered medium or high risk will require vet-signed export health certificates and will be eligible for physical border checks.
The government expected the additional cost of new border control checks to hit £420m per year.
