Post-Brexit border control issues raised in the NAO report

Changes to import control plans following Britain’s departure from the European Union have created uncertainty for businesses and extra costs for government and ports, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO).

A partial import control regime is in place after the implementation of full controls was postponed five times since the end of the transition period for leaving the EU on December 31, 2020. The United Kingdom voted to leave the EU in 2016.

The final phase of controls on sanitary and phytosanitary goods (SPS) entered into force on April 30, 2024, with further controls to follow later. This included the introduction of document, identity and physical checks on medium risk SPS products.

According to the report, estimates show that at least £4.7 billion (US$6 billion) will be spent to implement new arrangements and improve border management.

Biosafety risk
Repeated delays in introducing import controls and difficulties in predicting requirements have resulted in government spending on infrastructure and personnel that was not necessary. The NAO said port health authorities (PHAs) recruited around 520 staff to carry out SPS checks, of which 370 were not required. Some of these staff were transferred to other vacant positions.

The NAO found that the loss of access to the EU’s surveillance and warning systems is reducing Britain’s awareness of looming dangers, and that the phased approach to introducing full controls has increased biosecurity risk. Persistent uncertainties and differences in port readiness mean that SPS controls may function on an inconsistent and incomplete basis after their implementation.

The National Farmers Union and British Poultry Council told the NAO they were concerned about the biosecurity risk posed by a lack of import controls on animal products.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out checks on high-risk plant products from the EU at points of destination rather than at the border.

In 2023, APHA issued 316,000 Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and 21,000 Phytosanitary Certificates covering the movement of SPS goods from the UK to the EU.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) estimated that the annual cost to traders of complying with the SPS import controls it introduced for EU imports between January 2021 and December 2023 would be around £54 million ($68.6 million). ) amounted to .

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Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said the Border Strategy has ambitious plans to use technology and data to facilitate trade while managing risks.

“Britain’s departure from the EU brought about a wholesale change in the arrangements for the movement of goods across the border. However, more than three years after the end of the transition period, it is still not clear when full controls will take place,” he said.

Ashton Cull, public affairs manager for the Road Haulage Association, said: “We are very concerned to read this report detailing the delays in the introduction of the new border model, particularly the Single Trader Window.

“The overspending on infrastructure and staff is also a concern, especially when we receive reports from members that significant delays are being caused by a lack of resources at Sevington.”

The British International Freight Association said it had raised concerns about many issues in the NAO report.

“The government must take into account the comments in the NAO report and provide clarity to industry on all the details of how it plans to deliver the world’s most effective border, with a realistic and workable timeline that allows sufficient planning and implementation time makes possible. to provide workable solutions to implement existing or revised border and trade regulations,” the association said.

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