Sep 14th, 2021
6 mins
The government has announced this morning a new timetable for introducing full import controls for goods being imported from the EU to the UK.
Under the revised timetable:
- The requirements for pre-notification of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 January 2022.
- The new requirements for Export Health Certificates, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
- Phytosanitary Certificates and physical checks on SPS goods at Border Control Posts, due to be introduced on 1 January 2022, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
- Safety and Security declarations on imports will be required as of 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022. Full customs declarations and controls will be introduced on 1 January 2022 as previously announced.
The government have said they will work closely with the Devolved Administrations on the implementation of this new timetable, given their devolved responsibilities for agri-food controls.
They’ve also stated that they remain on track to deliver new systems, infrastructure and resourcing needed for these controls.
Ian Wright CBE, Chief Executive, Food and Drink Federation, said:
“Many food and drink manufacturers will be dismayed by the lateness of this substantial change. Businesses have invested very significant time and money in preparing for the new import regime on 1 October 2021. Now, with just 17 days to go, the rug has been pulled. This move penalises those who followed Government advice and rewards those who ignored it. As recently as yesterday, officials assured us that import checks would be implemented as planned.
“The repeated failure to implement full UK border controls on EU imports since 1 January 2021 undermines trust and confidence among businesses. Worse, it actually helps the UK’s competitors. The asymmetric nature of border controls facing exports and imports distorts the market and places many UK producers at a competitive disadvantage with EU producers.
“We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that supply chains are under extreme pressure but this is to a large extent caused by labour and skills shortages in every part of the food chain. Government must put in place financial support to help prepare for these new deadlines of import controls – industry has invested three times in preparing, only to have wasted this money despite assurances from Government there would be no delay.”
Richard Harrow, chief executive of BFFF, said: “Yet again this Government has demonstrated it doesn’t understand the complex nature of the food supply chain and has created yet more unnecessary confusion, muddle and stress for the industry.
“It is a real concern that our Government seems incapable of grasping issues until the eleventh hour, especially as the food industry has been raising concerns for the last few months! Many BFFF members have invested time and money in preparing for the expected changes, which now looks like a waste of money.
“This comes on top of ministers’ refusal to introduce a temporary work for foreign workers to tackle the chronic shortage of production and transport staff that is leading to food inflation and shortages of some foods. This delay will only add to these pressures.
“It’s about time the Government took its responsibility to ensure the nation to feed seriously and stopped moving the goal posts.”
We will update members with any further detail as and when we receive it, but in the meantime you can read the formal written statement made by Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon Lord Frost here.
