Response to DEFRA’s comments on border checks

Responding to the DEFRA blog post published this morning (19.04.2024) regarding the planned introduction of border checks on 30 April: Coverage about upcoming border checks,  Nichola Mallon, Head of Trade and Devolved Policy at business group Logistics UK, says:

“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.”