Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

UK Government slammed for plans to delay border checks on EU goods for the 4th time

25 Apr 2022 3 minute read
FUW President Glyn Roberts

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has described the UK Government’s plans to delay border checks on goods imported from the European Union for a fourth time as a ‘global disgrace’.

Checks on imports from the EU should originally have been introduced in January 2021 when the Brexit transition period came to an end, but the failure of UK governments to prepare border inspection posts meant they were not implemented at that time and have been delayed three times in the subsequent 28 months.

A total of 30 BCPs are being built across the UK to enable physical checks to be carried out on certain goods entering the UK from the EU as required under the Brexit trade deal.

Holyhead has already been confirmed as the location for one of the facilities in Wales but the post isn’t expected to be operational until at least April next year.

The other post is expected to be built in Pembrokeshire, but the precise location is yet to be decided and in January Economy Minister Vaughan Gething revealed the UK Government is refusing to fund the operating costs for the border control posts being built in in Wales.

Global disgrace

Responding to the news that Boris Johnson is considering a further delay, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “EU countries got their act together and started implementing full checks on our exports from the UK on 1 January 2021.

“Yet despite it being more than five years since Theresa May announced that the UK Government intended to pursue a hard Brexit policy, and that such border checks would be needed, the UK is still not ready.

“It’s a global disgrace, as it means we are failing to implement checks on international trade that should be standard practice in order to protect our own industries and population.”

Mr Roberts said that the Government’s failure meant Welsh and UK exporters face significant and costly checks on goods moving to the EU, but that EU products had been waived through our ports and into the UK market without checks for more than a year.

“In other words, our exports, such as Welsh lamb, face extremely costly border bureaucracy while food producers importing from the EU to the UK face nothing of the sort – the Government’s  failure to prepare for their own Brexit plan may as well be deliberately aimed at undermining UK farmers and producers,” he added.

Since Brexit, UK food and drink exports in 2021 were 12% below 2020 levels and 16% below 2019 levels – with falls for certain food products such as lamb far greater – mainly as a result of the checks imposed on UK exports entering the EU and associated costs.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Gareth
Gareth
1 year ago

Mr Roberts , the reason the EU countries ” got their act together” , is , that they are ruled by competent politicians, unlike the UK Gov, who are run by a liar,who has appointed a bunch of sychophantic idiots.

Rhobert Griffith
Rhobert Griffith
1 year ago
Reply to  Gareth

Absolutely just look at how the Dax has prospered against the FTSE since Brexit. No one can deny that.

Peter Cuthbert
Peter Cuthbert
1 year ago

It looks as if somebody in the current Government has spotted that Brexit is disaster and that if import checks are implemented as they should be the impact of consumers will be huge. Of course, looking on the bright side at least we are still getting our fruit and veg at a price we can mostly afford…

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago
Reply to  Peter Cuthbert

… and it also makes a strong case for little or no interference, i.e duties and allowing goods to flow freely. It’s the t*t for tat nonsense with custom duties that inhibits trade. If the UK really believes in anything like a free market then it should stop the nonsense, other countries will then reciprocate and things should flow far better. Home based industries, or what’s left of them should do well because the lies and myths that promoted a flight of manufacturing to “cheaper” locations are now becoming exposed for what they are. Same goes for farmers. The arguments… Read more »

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

Welsh farmers were warned of the dire consequences of leaving the EU block on trade. And It’s no good bemoaning something you willing voted for in Brexit. Never support ones who didn’t have your & Wales interests at heart. This is an unfolding tragedy that could have been avoided. The FUW lost the moral high ground when they descended to the Conservatives lowly level.

Last edited 1 year ago by Y Cymro

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.