The Farmers’ Union of Wales has described the on-going delay in post-Brexit border checks on food as baffling. The UK Government's apparent decision to continue to allow imports from the EU to circumvent checks is a blow for many UK producers, and an own goal in terms of the UK’s negotiating position over improvements that would help UK exporters.
While thorough checks have been in place for UK food exports to the EU since 1st January 2021, equivalent checks on food products imported from the EU were due to be introduced from 1st April 2021 following a transition period to allow importers to adjust to the UK’s departure from the EU Single Market.
It has been reported that there is concern that the extra checks on imported goods will push up prices and fuel inflation.
Whilst it is understandable that such checks have the potential to push up prices, that will be of little comfort to producers who have to comply with a plethora of regulations and checks in order to export their goods.
UK borders continue to operate like valves that make it extremely difficult and costly to export to the EU, due to all the paperwork and checks at EU borders, but it’s extremely easy for those in the EU to import into the UK because the UK Government has waived the need for equivalent checks at UK borders.
This means there is an uneven playing field that greatly favours EU businesses, and now the UK Government has extended this advantage again.
Farmers and many processors are extremely angry that the UK Government had failed to prepare properly for its own hard-Brexit policy, and was now extending deadlines to make up for its failings in a way which would disadvantage many Welsh businesses and favour many EU businesses.
The UK should not be in a situation where it is limping from extension to extension because of a lack of planning and foresight by the UK Government, while UK businesses are suffering unfair competition as a result.