Food disruptions feared in UK as new Brexit rules kick in

[Chris Wilson]

I think it must be down to all those lorries queuing right down the M25's hard shoulder and all around Dover.... They don't seem to get much media coverage, but I am sure they must be there, queuing away.

 

[jpaul]

yep - radio4 Today this morning had several articles discussing the gamut of anti-vax & fact checking skills the uk education system was failing to deliver to children/young-adults - capability to distinguish fact and fiction, versus other countries, a weakness exploited by politicians too, I guess,
are there webcams on the M25 ?

Is there a credible source that actualy describes/summarise the paperwork requirements - rather than discussing in hyperboli -

 

[Roar87]

For a smaller business, that could mean taking on an extra member of staff just to deal with the paperwork, say an admin/trainee accountant who's clued up on taxes and freight forwarding etc...25-30k a year? a cost they cannot afford, so they just stop exporting to europe.

No I meant the government should make changes such as implementing an electronic system to stream line all of this, even if we were in the EU food exports from outside of the EU faced a similar barrier

 

[Efour]

Some people and journalists just thrive living in depression and projecting a state of constant fear.

If something doesn't work, change it.

 

[Lopéz]

Some people and journalists just thrive living in depression and projecting a state of constant fear.

If something doesn't work, change it.

What, like EU membership?

 

[D.P.]

So the problem is actually the paperwork, a self imposed issue, not some insurmountable barrier. This is within our power to change and we should look to make those necessary changes asap.

Such as setting up a comprehensive trade agreement with our nearest counties, a single market where none of this red tape is needed.

 

[200sols]

Such as setting up a comprehensive trade agreement with our nearest counties, a single market where none of this red tape is needed.

Nobody objects to the trade deal, the problem is what comes with it.

 

[martin363]

yep - radio4 Today this morning had several articles discussing the gamut of anti-vax & fact checking skills the uk education system was failing to deliver to children/young-adults - capability to distinguish fact and fiction, versus other countries, a weakness exploited by politicians too, I guess,
are there webcams on the M25 ?

Is there a credible source that actualy describes/summarise the paperwork requirements - rather than discussing in hyperboli -

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58462351

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/sep/02/brexit-uk-food-drink-exports-eu-disastrous-decline

from the first article - Quoting internal documents from M&S:

The new rules mean lorry drivers importing goods will need some 700 pages of documents.

In a letter to suppliers, first reported by the Times, M&S set out a wide range of problems, including a lack of vets for essential checks, governments' unpreparedness - in some cases having not translated the rules into local languages, while it says some authorities "do not appear to know what will be required".

It also said suppliers had expressed concern that in some EU states, officials who issue Export Health Certificates - needed for trade in animal products - only work standard office hours from Monday to Friday.

As "modern food systems rely on importing food seven days a week... this working pattern will cause significant disruption to that import schedule and exacerbate the HGV driver shortage".

M&S says EU markets represent over 25% of all UK food imports, adding "If we don't see a more common sense approach to compliance, this is going to hurt everyone involved".

As well as EU member countries importing into Great Britain, the issue will markedly affect goods crossing from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.

And a small importer commented:

https://www.specialityfoodmagazine.com/news/brexit-food-supply-issues

Jose Ribeiro, owner of We Love Pizza in Leamington Spa, says Britain’s departure from the EU has made the import of products from Sardinia more cumbersome, expensive and slower.

“Since Brexit, each individual item has to be coded and logged in transportation documents to be checked at the border before entering the UK, complicating the process to the point where it may no longer make sense,” Jose explains. As a small business, the challenge is multiplied. “I need three to four hams a week, 10 bags of flour, 50 tins of tomatoes. I can’t buy a whole pallet, so the amount of paperwork is a nightmare.”

Simples- this is the official process summary for the determination of requirements:

https://assets.publishing.service.g...5/How_to_export_goods_from_GB_into_the_EU.pdf

and:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/imports-exports#subject-imports-to-great-britain

https://www.bifa.org/news/articles/2021/jan/defra-brexit-transition-update-export-paperwork-reminder

 

[Efour]

25% less food importats give you a chance to tackle food wastage, promote British produce and the obesity crisis.
Another massive win for Brexit.

Always see the positive...

 

[jpaul]

“Since Brexit, each individual item has to be coded and logged in transportation documents to be checked at the border before entering the UK, complicating the process to the point where it may no longer make sense,” Jose explains. As a small business, the challenge is multiplied. “I need three to four hams a week, 10 bags of flour, 50 tins of tomatoes. I can’t buy a whole pallet, so the amount of paperwork is a nightmare.”

ok - well maybe they need to learn excel https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...-controls-are-introduced#customs-declarations
if you have templates, should be copy paste.

Rules of origin – for imports and exports
The UK’s deal with the EU, called the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), means that the goods you import or export may benefit from a reduced rate of Customs Duty (tariff preference). To use this, you need proof that the goods you:

• import from the EU originate there
• export to the EU originate in the UK

By ‘originate’ we mean where goods (or the materials, parts or ingredients used to make them) have been produced or manufactured. It is not where the goods have been shipped or bought from. Your goods will need to meet the product specific rules of origin requirements set out in the TCA.

.....
Throughout 2021, you have been allowed to export goods to the EU using tariff preference and get supplier declarations afterwards, to give you more time. But from 1 January 2022 you must have supplier declarations (where required) at the time you export your goods.

If you cannot provide a supplier declaration to confirm the UK origin of goods you exported to the EU between 1 January and 31 December 2021, you must let your customer know.

If you’re subject to a request for verification by EU customs authorities and you can’t provide this supporting evidence, your EU customer will be liable to pay the full (non-preferential) rate of Customs Duty and we may also charge you a penalty.

 

[AiiR]

I'm not seeing any stock issues here, but am seeing prices increase week on week.

The frozen cooked chicken I normally buy for convenience has gone up 50p in the last week, pasta 20p, the list goes on. Supermarket own brand is getting closer to what I used to pay for branded produce.

Doesn't sound a lot but in terms of percentages it's worrying how quickly it's happening.

 

[Efour]

I'm not seeing any stock issues here, but am seeing prices increase week on week.

The frozen cooked chicken I normally buy for convenience has gone up 50p in the last week, pasta 20p, the list goes on. Supermarket own brand is getting closer to what I used to pay for branded produce.

Doesn't sound a lot but in terms of percentages it's worrying how quickly it's happening.

That's happening here too. Basic things have gone up 25 to 33 percent in the past year alone.
Sign of the COVID times, not Brexit.