United Kingdom import: further postponement of health checks
London again postponed the date of entry into force of sanitary and phytosanitary checks on European goods imported into the United Kingdom.
In late August, the UK Government announced a further postponement of sanitary and phytosanitary import controls on goods from the European Union. Expected for the end of October 2023 (cf.Import United Kingdom: Which products will be subject to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) control?), the obligation to submit a health certificate on food imports is extended by three months, i.e.31 January 2024. Physical checks, also carried over, should not apply beforeApril 2024. The detailed calendar is available in the guide «The Border Target Operating Model: August 2023» published on August 29.
This is the fifth time since Brexit that London is breaking the timetable for implementing these formalities originally scheduled for July 2021. The UK government explains that it wants to give stakeholders time to prepare for these new post-Brexit controls. The fear is also that the latter will feed food price inflation which exploded this year with a record in March (+19%). While some welcome this decision, in particular because they fear an additional cost associated with these customs formalities, farmers across the Channel consider that competition with their European competitors is unfair and fear a possible health crisis in the absence of these import controls.
Source(s): gov.uk