Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK have raised doubts about the government's preparedness for post-Brexit border control checks, questioning the decision to scale back plans which could be seen as a delay in the introduction of these checks. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (EFRA) has taken action by writing to the government seeking clarification on the specific nature of the physical inspections to be carried out on plant and food products, noting that these inspections may be significantly reduced due to concerns about potential border delays.
The government is set to commence checks on medium and high-risk plant and animal imports from the European Union (EU) next week under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) plan. However, recent reports from the Financial Times have indicated that certain parts of the risk management system for all commodity groups will not be activated initially due to worries within the government about the readiness of the border systems. Despite assurances from the government that checks will commence, it has been acknowledged that some will be delayed, with a focus on high-risk products first before gradually expanding to a more comprehensive inspection regime in the future.
Robert Goodwill, the chair of the EFRA committee, has urged the government to provide clarity on the recent delays and information on how a phased approach to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks will be implemented practically. In a letter to the environment secretary, Steve Barclay, Goodwill expressed concerns over the uncertainties faced by ports and businesses, describing them as "confused and frustrated" by the handling of these crucial border controls. Goodwill emphasized the importance of clear communication and achievable milestones in the phased implementation of SPS checks, raising worries that the reported approach may stem from inadequate planning and execution of the model, potentially marking a sixth delay in the rollout of SPS import checks.