Defra insists post-Brexit border checks will launch in matter of days

Defra has insisted post-Brexit health and safety checks will be implemented as planned on April 30, despite media reports they were to be scrapped to avoid ‘significant disruption' which may fuel food inflation.

The department said it had ‘full confidence the facilities, infrastructure and systems at the border', will be ready in time for the launch of its five-times delayed Border Trade Operating Model (BTOM). The new measures will see physical checks placed on high risk goods - live animals, germinal products, products of animal origin (POAO) and animal by-products (ABPs) - carried out some 22 miles from the Dover arrival point at the new Sevington facility.

Read more: New border rules spark food shortage fears

However, a spokesperson for Port Health and Public Protection at Dover District Council said the authority's view was clear: the border ‘is not ready'.

"Systems are not ready, and the infrastructure for food inspections (Sevington) is not sufficient to process the volumes and full range of food that [if enforced in accordance with the BTOM] will require a physical check from April, the spokesperson said.

"The Government run-Border Control Point (BCP) at Dover [Bastion Point] is being maintained to temperature - so incurring operational costs - but is not being mobilised.

The spokesperson added: "From April 30, Defra plans to allow controlled animal products arriving from around the world to arrive and move uncontrolled by the Port Health Authority, freely away from the border without checks."

High risk

Defra said checks will be scaled up to ‘full check levels in a sensible and controlled way' while Port Health Authorities will be conducting documentary checks on consignments of all risk levels.

A UK Government spokesperson said: "Checks are commencing from April 30 and, as we have always said, the medium and high-risk goods posing the greatest biosecurity risk are being prioritised as we build up to full check rates and high levels of compliance.

"Taking a pragmatic approach to introducing our new border checks minimises disruption, protects our biosecurity and benefits everyone – especially traders."