UK to delay imminent new Brexit border checks on food amid shortages

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A Defra spokesperson said: “Businesses have faced a range of challenges over recent months as they respond to the global pandemic.” “By allowing some chilled meat items to continue to be imported from the EEA until 1 January 2022, firms will be able to focus on their recovery and maintain existing supply lines.” This latest delay would be the UK government’s third, after the original plan was for checks to imposed in January 2021. A UK government spokesperson said: “Businesses should continue to prepare for new import checks in October and January.” They added that advice for traders was available on gov.uk. “But this is becoming a recurring theme, with deadlines being pushed back late in the day.” The government should reconsider their approach, Mr Lowe said: “It would be preferable for the government to provide a much more realistic, long-term roadmap for businesses, and then stick to it.” Peter Hardwick, policy advisor for the British Meat Processors’ Association, said that delaying the introduction of checks “makes sense” from a practical point of view. The reality is today the cost for British companies delivering goods to the EU has doubled and it takes twice as long as it did before Brexit.” Another industry insider, who did not have permission from their employer to speak on the record, said they would welcome a move to delay checks, but it comes months after conflicting guidance from officials working on imposing the checks in private, compared to the official government line.