Starting from Wednesday, the UK is introducing new rules for imports from the European Union (EU). These rules will affect various goods, including cut flowers, fresh produce like meat, fruit, and vegetables.
Some organizations are worried that these new rules might cause delays and increase costs for businesses. However, others believe that these rules will help UK farmers compete better.
The UK left the EU four years ago, but it has taken some time for the government to put new trade rules in place as required by the Brexit agreement. These changes mark a shift from the free flow of goods between the UK and the EU, which has been happening since 1993. British exporters have already been facing extra paperwork for the past three years when trading with the EU.
The implementation of these changes has been delayed several times to give businesses time to prepare and to minimize disruptions to supply chains. The new border checks will be phased in over the next year, with physical checks starting from April 30.
Some concerns have been raised about how these checks might disrupt business supply chains. For example, trucks carrying goods might be stopped at ports to make sure they have the right paperwork. There are worries that these extra checks could increase costs for businesses and, as a result, prices for consumers.
From Wednesday onwards, one significant change is the requirement for “export health certificates” for imports of certain animal products and plants from the EU. This means that every consignment of meat, fruit, and vegetables coming into Britain from the EU will need to undergo a veterinary health check in the EU.
Although not all products will require checks, most consignments are likely to have a mix of goods, so they will need to undergo checks. The controls will also apply to goods coming from Ireland for the first time, but there are arrangements in place to ensure smooth trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Some businesses feel that these extra checks are unnecessary because many of the safety measures were already in place before Brexit. However, others are concerned about the potential increase in costs.
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has raised concerns about the physical inspections scheduled to begin in three months. They worry that there might not be enough veterinary capacity in EU countries to carry out these checks.
The government has acknowledged that these new rules will increase food prices, but it predicts that the impact on inflation will be minimal. It also says that health certificates will be digitized and simplified to make the process easier.
Different sectors have different needs, and the National Farmers Union (NFU) believes that border controls should take these differences into account. While some businesses are concerned about disease control, others worry about delays in their supply chains.
Overall, the government aims to strike a balance between trade and biosecurity with these new controls. However, there are still questions about how the plans will be implemented and whether they will lead to delays in deliveries.