Timetable for tighter controls on EU imports could slip again

The introduction of tighter border controls on EU imports could slip again, a parliamentary watchdog has warned.

In a report on the government’s handling of post-Brexit trade issues, the National Audit Office (NAO) says the government needs to do “much more work” on cross-border trade.

The government originally planned to introduce full import checks at dedicated border control posts (BPCs) on 1 January 2021.

See also: Farmers send strong message to policymakers at COP26

Farmers and traders, concerned over the unchecked flow of cheaper EU produce into the UK, had pinned hopes on the tougher measures to control and level up trade.

But the introduction has been delayed three times, with a revised target of March 2022 for BCPs and between January and July 2022 for other measures.

Despite government assurances that the timetable will not slip again, the NAO says it has identified areas where delivery is still at risk and contingency plans may have to be deployed.

Criticism

In other areas, the report criticises the continuing use of temporary measures that were introduced when the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021.

Delaying import controls, easing some rules and handing out financial support to help businesses continue to trade are not long-term solutions, the NAO says.

The government has also spent £113m on shoring up businesses affected by the new controls. In particular, the money went to the fishing industry, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Much more work is needed to bring in effective, long-term import controls, the report says.

The moves had been enough to avoid significant queues at the border in January 2021. 

But this was partially due to traffic flows being reduced because of stockpiling, trader wariness over the new rules and the Covid-19 pandemic, it adds.

The measures failed to prevent a 23% drop in GB-EU trade in the first quarter of this year, and a 13% shortfall over the following three months.

The pandemic was likely to have caused some of this effect. But trade with the EU had suffered far greater falls than trade with other countries, the report notes.

Food and livestock trade have been hit hardest. UK exports of food and live animals to the EU fell by 73% – the largest monthly decline of all commodity groups in January 2021.

Animals 

NFU chief livestock adviser John Royle said the level of progress with BCPs was unclear, but some movement was desperately needed to kickstart British breeding animal exports.

Mr Royle explained that under existing arrangements there are no BCPs on either side of the English Channel.

Unlike the UK’s open-door policy, continental Europe has banned imports of live breeding animals until it had BCPs in place.

With their exports flowing freely into Britain there is little incentive to start construction and trade will remain at a standstill, he said.

Mr Royle suggested progress on constructing BCPs in the UK could spur the Europeans to do the same.

The NFU also wanted the government to invest in BCPs at a number of ports around Britain.

This would ensure biosecurity is better administered and importers of vital breeding stock could be introduced via the most cost-effective route, Mr Royle added.