The prospect of checks on fresh produce coming from the EU into Great Britain has been something of a long-running saga. Each time the checks have drawn closer, they have been delayed, and on some occasions, even been followed up by a change in strategy.
The last delay, which was confirmed in the spring of 2022, saw the government announce that it would be introducing a new Border Operating Model.
The Border Operating Model itself was also delayed in that it was planned for release in autumn 2022, but the basic plans for it were not published until the spring of this year.
The proposals, as set out in the new ‘Border Target Operating Model’ announced on 5 April 2023, represent the latest plan to impose the food import controls required of the UK under both the free trade agreement with the EU and World Trade Organisation rules.
A six-week engagement period commenced in April, and the final Target Operating Model is scheduled to be published later this year.
In April 2022, Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency at the time, said it would be “wrong to impose new administrative burdens and risk disruption at ports and to supply chains at this point”. Mr Rees-Mogg added that delaying the checks would save British businesses up to £1 billion in annual costs. These are of course expenses that companies didn’t have to deal with when the UK was in the EU.
Fast forward to August 2023, and the Financial Times has reported that government sources are coming to similar conclusions again.
An “insider” who was briefed about another delay to SPS checks told the Financial Times on Wednesday:
“The driving force behind this is the need to bear down on inflation, that’s why there will be a delay. There will be additional costs at the border.”
Commenting on the news on Twitter, Shane Brennan, current CEO of the Cold Chain Federation, said:
“Right decision here to delay – we specifically pressed for push back on Oct deadline in letter to SoS DEFRA three weeks ago – but what a shower!! 7 years since vote, 38 months since single market exit, no post-Brexit plan – just knee-jerks and sticking plasters.”
The delay to the SPS checks means that as a result of Brexit, checks on British goods bound for the EU will continue to take place while no equivalent checks are made for goods flowing in the opposite direction.
News of yet another postponement to the SPS checks could further infuriate a number of UK food exporters, who have long taken issue with the fact their produce now faces considerable friction at the EU border while EU produce is flowing into Britain smoothly.
On this very issue, Nick von Westenholz, director of trade at the National Farmers Union, told the Financial Times:
“We need proportionate, light-touch checks in place that can both keep costs for importers to a minimum while properly managing biosecurity risks. Government must quickly set out a clear and concrete timetable for the new import regime, so we have a level playing field for UK growers and producers.”
The full details concerning the SPS checks delay have not been made official at the time of writing. It is assumed that the checks due to take place on October 31st will now begin early in the new year, though given what is happened in the past, further postponements cannot be ruled out.
Those unfamiliar with the SPS checks can consult this article from our archives, which contains insight from Customs Link on what hauliers and exporters will need to do when the checks begin.
Photo by Randy Bailey on Unsplash