As much as our government continue to state the effect of change will be minimal, many are concerned about price increases.
The initial stage of new Brexit border controls began in the UK on 31st January 2024. They are intended to bring tighter control on plants, animals and foodstuffs entering the UK from the European Union.
These controls should have been in place several years ago but were regularly postponed, due to price concerns amidst economic hardship.
Neither will January see the full outcome of regulation on a wide range of goods. This only brings additional admin requirements, from April, many items will need to be physically inspected and further changes will be made in October.
How The System Works
The new system, called the Border Target Operating Model, places plant and animal products from the EU into three risk groups: high, medium and low.
Items deemed low risk will be exempt from most (but not all) documentation, along with physical checks. A few fruits are included, such as nectarines, or apricots, vegetables such as beetroot, or radish, processed meats and cheese made from pasteurised milk.
Worth noting that DEFRA state the classification is temporary i.e. they reserve the right to amend categorisation and probably will. For now, the brunt of legislative change is aimed at goods currently listed as medium, or high risk.
This includes cut flowers, cuttings, seeds, anything that can be planted. Live animals and fresh meat are on the list, as are non pasteurised dairy items, eggs, most seafood and a range of products derived from each category.
Likely Outcomes
At present, the requirement is to fill in forms, or get a vet involved for certain products. This will still put off small suppliers, meaning the variety of goods in the UK will reduce and/or prices for less common items rise.
By April, there will be inspections to go through. From October, required safety and security declarations could in theory reduce paperwork but many items will be moved from low, to medium risk, such as strawberries, apples, carrots.
Every retailer and trade body is stating that the nominal savings will be outweighed by wider cost increases, ultimately passed on to consumers.
Apart from domestic ramifications, there will be financial pressure for UK businesses reliant on EU exporters. Many millions of taxpayer funds will be used on admin, staffing and infrastructure, which we all share in donating to.
Striking A Balance
We should note that UK exporters to the EU have had to pass through similar hoops for several years. Some welcome the change and point out that what are being implemented are largely WTO rules, which already apply to goods from non EU countries.
There could be biosecurity advantages, when plant and animal diseases exist on mainland Europe which are not in the UK. We did however manage that situation for a very long time and could continue to do so.
An alternative to the whole scenario would be renegotiation of Brexit, trying to remove barriers to our exports, not share them.
A few have suggested this is the intention, instigating the regulations is in reality a call my bluff exercise. This seems wishful thinking and in any event, is not a great way to bring harmony, or cooperation.
Brexit is history and some aspects are working well, such as ATA carnets for the EU we supply. Where aspects are not working, perhaps causing business and consumers to suffer, rethinking might be a worthwhile exercise.