The government of Boris Johnson abandoned plans to introduce post-Brexit controls on food imported from EU countries, as announced by Cabinet Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg.
In a written statement to the House of Commons, the Minister for Brexit Opportunities confirmed that the controls, which were due to take effect on 1 July, would not be enforced in 2022.
Border Controls on Food Products in England
Jacob Rees-Mogg has postponed physical checks on fresh food imports for the fourth time since Brexit. Under the original plan, physical border checks on meat were scheduled to begin on 1 July, dairy products on 1 September, and all other food – including fish and composite foodstuffs – from 1 November.
However, the UK government has announced a fourth delay to the introduction of physical border inspections for fresh food imported from the EU. The decision comes amid reports from the industry that neither the technology nor the necessary infrastructure was ready for the July rollout of the next Brexit phase.
Minister Rees-Mogg described this move as an example of the UK’s newly acquired independent powers to control its trade borders after leaving the EU and the single market.
He justified the decision by citing concerns over a potential collapse of supply chains already under pressure from the war in Ukraine and rising operational costs.
The delays could push the full implementation of border controls to 2023 and potentially ease requirements for importing fresh food products, live animals, and documentation obligations related to the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS).
April 2022 Disruptions
In early April 2022, a failure of the UK’s key post-Brexit IT system – the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) – combined with the suspension of P&O ferry routes caused significant delays for freight traffic attempting to cross the English Channel.
Challenges for EU Businesses
Industry sources in the UK reported that many small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU were unprepared for physical border checks and unable to obtain veterinary certificates that would be required for fresh food imports – from artisanal cheese to olive oil and cured meats from countries such as Spain and Italy.
Since 1 January 2021, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks have been a legal requirement and are enforced in all EU countries bordering the United Kingdom, including France, Belgium, and Ireland.
