Food firms are warning that the start of physical checks at UK border control posts, along with higher charges, from April 30, will restrict the variety and freshness of fine artisan foods such as cheese, pasta and olive oil, send prices higher.

London

Brexit's impending border control checks, set to be introduced at the end of April, have sparked concern among UK food retailers over potential costs and delays. The new measures will introduce physical checks at UK border posts in addition to current documentation and health certificate requirements for EU exporters. This change is aimed at preventing diseases and pests from entering the country. However, retailers fear that these added procedures will restrict the variety and freshness of imported artisan foods such as cheese, pasta, and olive oil, subsequently raising prices for consumers.

David Josephs, the proprietor of Panzer's Delicatessen in London, highlighted the bureaucratic challenges businesses like his are now facing. He explained that the need to prepare paperwork well in advance of shipping marks a significant departure from the pre-Brexit process, which was comparatively quicker and more efficient. This, he asserts, has unnecessarily complicated the importation process, exacerbating existing logistical difficulties.

Smaller retailers, in particular, stand to be adversely affected by the new border control measures. They argue that the requisite health certifications and physical checks at the border could delay deliveries by weeks, making it increasingly difficult to fulfill smaller, less frequent orders. Nick Carlucci, an Italian food dealer, shared his concerns about the viability of importing certain goods into the UK under these new regulations. He noted that additional costs associated with these changes are likely to be passed down the supply chain, ultimately affecting the end consumer. According to Carlucci, importing a single pallet of various meats could see costs rise by £432 ($537), potentially reducing his firm's profit margin by 10 percent.

In response to these concerns, the UK government has promised a pragmatic approach to the implementation of the new border control measures, stating it does not foresee major disruptions. Furthermore, officials have predicted a modest impact on food inflation, estimating an increase of only 0.2 percent over a three-year period.



Brexit border checks: U.K. stores fear costs, delays

An upmarket food store in London makes for an unlikely front line, but shops like Panzer's Delicatessen say they feel under attack by bureaucrats. Three years after Britain left the EU single market, new border control checks are due to begin at the end of the month. Deli boss David Josephs says that's going to make an already bad situation worse. It's created bureaucracy, a huge range of bureaucracy, a whole empire has been built as a result of Brexit, which is totally uncalled for. We now have to register paperwork 24 hours to 48 hours in advance of shipping, whereas before we could have it within hours and just ship the goods. EU exporters of many foodstuffs and other products already have to provide health certificates for their produce. That may not be a problem for big firms importing in bulk, but smaller UK retailers say it can delay the arrival of goods by weeks and make little orders all but impossible. From April 30th, the products will also be subject to physical checks at border posts. The government says that will help stop diseases and pests entering the country, but many retailers fear it will just add to delays. Italian food dealer Nick Carlucci says some meat importers have told him it may not be viable to keep supplying the UK, and he says there will be another impact too. Unfortunately we do have to pass on the costs. We can't absorb all these costs that just keep coming out of thin air. We do our best to absorb as much as we can, but we have to pass it on to our customers, which are farm shops, food halls and delis, and unfortunately they have to pass it on to the final consumer. After the new checks come in, he says importing one pallet of varied meats will cost an extra £432 or $537 compared with before Brexit. He says the costs could hammer his profit margin by 10 per cent. Now his firm is stockpiling, afraid of bottlenecks at key gateways like the port of Dover on the south coast. However the government says it will take a pragmatic approach and says it does not anticipate major disruption. Ministers estimate the new rules will increase food inflation by just 0.2 per cent over three years.

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