The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Food check delays ‘work against UK’
Delaying checks on food coming into Britain from the European Union has put domestic businesses at a “competitive disadvantage” after Brexit, MPS have warned.
The environment, food and rural affairs committee has recommended ministers keep to their plan to start border inspections on meat and seafood coming from the bloc in January in order to level the playing field between Britain and the EU after Brexit.
In its Seafood and Meat Exports to the EU report, the Commons committee criticised the decision to delay controls on imports from January as “originally planned” to October 1, with checks at the border only starting next year.
“This has placed British businesses at a competitive disadvantage and reduced the incentive on the European Commission to negotiate measures that
would lessen the burdens facing British producers,” the committee said.
The MPS warn there is a risk food businesses in Britain could stop exporting due to the red tape and delays they are facing, or possibly move their operation to the EU to get around the issues.
Committee chairman Neil Parish said: “British businesses have acted with incredible agility and perseverance to adapt to
the new processes for exporting meat and seafood to the EU.
“With the many checks causing delays and costs, this hasn’t been easy.”
He added: “We are concerned that in the absence of equivalent checks for imports from the EU to Great Britain, there will be serious longterm repercussions for our producers.
“As it stands, the playing field is not even, and the government must ensure that the new timetable to introduce import checks is adhered to.”
The 41-page report also calls for ministers to agree with Brussels a process for digitising the certification of paperwork, such as export health certificates.
MPS recommended taking a flexible approach to the compensation fund for seafood exporters, including reconsidering the cap of £100,000 on individual payments, and providing similar support to meat exporters.
They also pushed for the creation of a ring-fenced fund to help create new distribution hubs which would allow smaller consignments to be grouped into a single lorry and reduce transport costs.
A UK Government spokesman said: “The new timetable for introducing import checks is pragmatic and allows businesses more time to adjust as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.”