Sources say a fifth delay on the introduction of post-Brexit import checks on food and fresh produce arriving in Britain will be announced officially soon. The decision to once again push back plans to enforce the controls – which have been in place for exports from the UK to the EU – is linked to concerns that the move could further fuel food price inflation during the cost of living crisis. Traders have also asked for more time to adapt to the new rules.
It seems that the plan to delay the new border controls has been backed by the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt. The government’s post-Brexit border strategy, including inspections of animal and plant products arriving in Britain, was originally supposed to be introduced in 2021.
According to the most recent timetable, import checks had been expected to introduced in three stages over the course of a year, beginning with new paperwork requirements – including health certificates for certain animal and plant products, as well as high risk food products – from the end of October this year.
Source: theguardian.com