Plans which would see goods inspectors on the UK border go home from work at 7pm and pare back processing facilities have been blasted as “absolutely crazy” by importers.
The scheme would see almost all checkpoints across England’s southern ports shut overnight, and lorries redirected to just one facility in Kent – and has left fresh food carriers up in arms.
The new rules, which came into force on Tuesday, are in place thanks to much-delayed post-Brexit border checks on large quantities of “medium risk” goods, including fresh food.
And while they have been imposed to safeguard the UK against diseases from the continent – including African swine fever – importers have warned they pose risks including severe delays for lorry drivers bringing in perishable goods like food.
The new rules are in place thanks to much-delayed post-Brexit border checks on large quantities of “medium risk” goods
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The plans will see import vehicles having documentation checked at UK ports before being made to drive on to processing facilities further inland for physical inspections on their goods.
Some drivers, under the new system, could be made to park overnight while border workers are at home until 7am – leaving them unable to deliver stocks to British supermarkets before their deadlines.
The government has established a purpose-built site at Sevington in Kent which is set to operate 24/7, and carries capacity to process over 1,200 lorries.
Commercial providers will also be able to carry out in-person checks using official inspectors in Sevington, though many of said inspectors will be unavailable between 7pm and 7am.
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The government has established a purpose-built site at Sevington in Kent which is set to operate 24/7
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Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, told the BBC the situation was “absolutely crazy” and would badly affect perishable goods importers.
Jenney said: “Our goods are highly perishable and are delivered on a ‘just in time’ basis… 95 per cent of all our consignments from Europe arrive in the evening and through the night to be delivered… so that we can enjoy that produce the next day.”