New Brexit border checks could stifle fine food imports from EU
LONDON (Reuters) — Panzer’s delicatessen in northwest London has lost 37 suppliers from the European Union since Britain left the bloc’s single market in 2021, and owner David Josephs fears more will quit after the UK introduces new border checks this month.
Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016 but — such was the scale of the task to untangle supply chains and erect customs borders — is only this year setting new rules.
EU exporters of chilled and frozen meat, fish, cheese, dairy products and some cut flowers have had to present health certificates, signed off by a vet or plant inspector, since Jan. 31 — a demand that smaller British retailers and wholesalers say can delay the arrival of goods by weeks.
They are now warning that the start of physical checks, along with higher charges, from April 30 will restrict the variety and freshness of fine artisan foods such as charcuterie, cheese, pasta and olive oil, and that prices will rise.
“We find small independent producers making fabulous things that you wouldn’t necessarily see outside their region and we’re bringing them into London but it’s getting harder, because some of them don’t want to do the paperwork,” said Patricia Michelson, owner of retailer and wholesaler La Fromagerie.
The new hurdles risk unraveling Britain’s diversity of food and drink, said John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, which represents 12,000 independent food businesses.
“Only the very biggest processors and retailers are going to be able to deal with this bureaucracy and the extent of these checks,” he said.
“The smaller producers and retailers will just give up and we’ll end up with less choice and less good food and drink.”
The government says the new checks will help prevent diseases and pests entering Britain.
It also says it will level the playing field for British exporters. In 2021 the EU immediately enforced its rules, leading to port delays and prompting some British exporters to stop selling to the bloc, at least initially.
Delicatessen owner Josephs, who sells products from more than 80 countries and supplies nearly 200 restaurants, says Brexit has been a disaster for his business.
“The government says there won’t be any disruption. I guarantee there will be,” he said. “We already have some meat suppliers who are saying it’s becoming debatable as to whether or not it’s economically viable to supply the UK.”
Nick Carlucci, sales director of Italian foods seller Tenuta Marmorelle, based in Berkshire, southern England, said the January changes raised costs and lengthened lead times for some goods by a week. He imports olive oil from his family-owned farm in Puglia, burrata and buffalo mozzarella cheese, balsamic vinegar, sliced meats, pasta, antipasti and panettone.