"Delays at the border can disrupt supply chains nationwide" says Logistics UK in response to the expanded border zone at Port of Dover

Monday 29 July 2024

Responding to the announcement that the government is today legislating to enable French border officials to process passengers at the expanded Western Docks in the Port of Dover ahead of the planned autumn introduction of the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES), Nichola Mallon, Head of Trade and Devolved Policy at business group Logistics UK, says:

“The Short Straits is a critical UK-EU supply chain route and anything that helps ease congestion at the Port of Dover is to be welcomed. A quarter of all food imported into the UK from the EU passes through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, and delays at the border have knock-on effects which can disrupt supply chains nationwide.

“The increase in the border zone area will help with the flow of traffic within the port, but with the system set to be rolled out without the availability of an app or web-based registration system, similar to “online check in” which everyone is familiar with nowadays, queues and delays at peak periods are inevitable. It is now critical that the government does all it can to secure a phased approach to the planned implementation of EES this autumn, and that industry gets clarity on what mitigations will be put in place to reduce congestion and disruption. The industry also needs confirmation on the date when the registration app will be ready and rolled out.

“The logistics industry is still pressing government to share its data analysis and scenario modelling with key strategic partners as an urgent priority. This will enable partners on the ground and industry to coordinate planning and response efforts, and government must provide sufficient resources to flex up the response as needed so that the nation’s supply chains are protected.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk