How UK’s new border controls will affect animal and plant imports

After more than three years of delays, Tuesday finally sees the introduction of physical checks on animal and plant imports coming into Britain from the EU.

The second phase, beginning on Tuesday, will be the most significant, with lorries from the continent being held up for the first time at border control posts at ports around the country, so they can be inspected.

The low risk products, which are largely processed food goods, will receive no checks and require no health certificates.

William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chamber of Commerce, said firms face “mounting confusion and uncertainty about exactly how and when the borders checks and costs will be fully implemented”.

The body estimated that the new requirements could add £1bn a year in costs for those moving plant and animal products through Sevington alone.

Nigel Jenney, the chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said: “They’ve [the government] created a strategy that is both incompetent and hugely expensive.