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Checks on Goods Entering UK
29 April 2024
Lead MP
Mark Spencer
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Migrants & BordersEconomyEmploymentBrexitBusiness & Trade
Other Contributors: 21
At a Glance
Mark Spencer raised concerns about checks on goods entering uk in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Government are introducing documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks on medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products, and high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin imported from the EU. Checks on high-risk products will be conducted at border control posts instead of destination points to protect biosecurity. Documentary checks will happen at all risk levels while physical checks focus initially on highest-risk goods with some medium-risk items also checked. The Government is confident in its capacity and capability to handle the volume of checks under the border target operating model, ensuring robust systems and trained staff are ready for full implementation from Wednesday. This approach aims to support traders adapting to new regimes.
Stella Creasy
Lab/Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
Questions the inevitability of the proposed border controls, criticising delays and lack of negotiation for a phytosanitary deal. Points out logistical issues including checks at Dover, common user charges, potential inflationary impacts (£8 per month on average food shop), and uncertainty around enforcement and standards. Asks the Minister to publish modelling detailing cost calculations.
Minister reply
Disputes the criticisms, stating that 0.2% increase in food inflation is justified given benefits of biosecurity checks against threats like African swine fever. Clarifies charges for low-risk goods (£10 per product, capped at £50 per lorry load).
Question
Asks about the timescale for ramping up border controls to satisfactory levels and measures preventing illegal dumping of consignments diverted to Sevington.
Minister reply
Responds by distinguishing between legitimate trade through approved routes versus illegal imports. Border Force checks will remain at Dover, while legal operators move to Sevington. Avoiding checks would be a criminal act with goods unable to enter the UK marketplace.
Daniel Zeichner
Lab
Cambridge
Question
We recognise the need to ensure the UK’s biosecurity, but I echo the points made by my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow. What a mess. It is 29 April and the new checks are being introduced tomorrow, but businesses are unclear about how the system will operate—and that is after five delays and huge sums wasted on border control points such as Portsmouth. Can the Minister provide details of the funding lost to Portsmouth?
Minister reply
I thank the shadow Minister for his questions and interest in this topic. We have been working closely with the sector, hauliers, and companies importing food into the UK. We are taking time to ensure we get it right and proportionate. We will continue to work with those using the system to remove barriers to free trade while keeping us safe.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Question
As a veterinary surgeon, I am reassured that our Conservative Government are taking biosecurity seriously. Prior to leaving the EU, we did not systematically check animal and plant products coming into the UK. Does my right hon. Friend agree that now we have the opportunity to strengthen biosecurity with the introduction of the border target operator model?
Minister reply
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his work in this area. Moving forward, we will be in a much stronger place in terms of our phytosanitary and sanitary protections.
Question
The continual uncertainty caused by these border checks is not only disgraceful but highly damaging for industry and consumers. There have been five delays, accompanied by a complete failure to communicate those delays effectively. Does the Minister accept that significant disruption is a symptom of both Government’s disastrous delivery of the checks and Brexit?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman’s characterisation is simply untrue. We have been working closely with the sector, hauliers, and companies that want to import food into the UK. We are approaching this in a pragmatic, proportionate way.
Question
My right hon. Friend makes the point about delays and no apology for them. Given those delays, will he accept my assurance that the team at Sevington is absolutely prepared to do the checks as well as they could possibly be done? People can be assured of import check safety at Sevington because the team there are across everything.
Minister reply
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his support and reassurance. We will continue to listen, work with those who want to import goods into the UK, ensure we remove as many barriers to free trade as possible but at the same time keep ourselves safe.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill
Question
Our trade intensity has fallen to the lowest level in the G7. ITV’s Joel Hills states that estimated costs of the new model are 10 times the Government’s estimate. Surely, the bottom line is that cost of living crisis hasn’t gone away and introducing a system costing UK consumers more for imports from the EU doesn’t meet standards we have?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman says there will be extensive costs but for low-risk products they are £10 per product, limited to five products per common health entry document. We calculate that there will be a 0.2% increase in cost over three years.
Question
The Minister is right about the devastating impact of not having proper checks and the risk of African swine fever, so can he explain why Dover Port Health’s costs are slashed for essential checks at the border? Should existing checks be maintained in full at Dover with its state-of-the-art facility?
Minister reply
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s tenacious campaign on behalf of her constituents and the port of Dover, but I hope she will not mind my drawing attention to the fact that these are separate regimes: goods coming in legally, via legal channels, with the right documentation will move to Sevington.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
Those of us from rural communities know how vital it is to have biosecurity at our borders—but intelligently applied, so that we do not damage supply chains or have excessive red tape. Does this issue shine a spotlight on the fact that we are increasingly reliant on food imports? Britain produces only 60% of the food we eat. Is the Government’s agricultural payments scheme extremely foolish and should be reversed?
Minister reply
I am familiar with the beauty of the hon. Gentleman’s constituency; as he knows, I was there on Saturday with the shadow Minister. He gives figures for what we import in total but for food we can produce we are at 72%. The Prime Minister has also recognised that challenge and will introduce a food security index to monitor this issue.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Question
These changes are required under World Trade Organisation rules and are about keeping us safe from disease threats, but how will it work for mixed loads in particular, to reduce the cost to business and therefore consumers?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend asks an important question. That is why we have capped the maximum charges to five per load, particularly to support SMEs. As I say, for those of medium risk the charge is £10, or a maximum of £50 per load.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
What do the Government have against the £6.2 billion floristry industry in this country, which employs 240,000 people? Why did the Government not conduct an impact assessment when increasing costs for importing flowers?
Minister reply
We want to protect UK flower growers from diseases imported via products that do not come through correct channels with proper documentation. These checks are necessary to ensure safety and keep the growing sector in the UK secure.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
Will there be any checks on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, despite current exemptions? What assurances can be given against dodgy products being manufactured in the Irish Republic and entering GB through NI?
Minister reply
We will continue to work with authorities to limit impacts on the Northern Ireland economy while ensuring it remains part of the UK. We do not have a timescale for monitoring goods moving across this border but will ensure no back-door routes are used.
Question
When will the Welsh ports connecting to the EU through the Republic of Ireland be operational with border control points?
Minister reply
We cannot give a date at this moment, but we are in detailed conversations with those at Holyhead port and will update him from the Dispatch Box as soon as we have one.
Neil Coyle
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Question
Why is the Government ignoring British business estimates that show food prices are already 30% higher due to Brexit, with an additional £2.9 billion cost from the new approach?
Minister reply
We introduce checks proportionately without impacting businesses heavily and set fees at £10 for medium-risk products per lorryload, ensuring we recover costs while keeping the country safe.
Gen Kitchen
Lab
Wellingborough and Rushden
Question
Why have the Government refused to implement a tonnage-based approach as the EU does? Could all small and medium-sized importers join the trusted trader scheme instead?
Minister reply
We evaluated different models, including adopting the model of third country to the EU or the EU’s own model. The chosen model is pragmatic and keeps costs down compared to alternatives.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
What assessment has been made of border checks' impact on living standards in Welsh households where one in four adults skips meals due to financial difficulties?
Minister reply
The biggest danger is taking 20% land away from farmers and out of production, imposing a top-down approach. I urge reconsideration of the Welsh Government’s proposals that could drive thousands from agriculture.
Question
As a result of these changes, small businesses will close, jobs will be lost, and consumer choice will be reduced. Is this not contrary to what Brexit aimed for?
Minister reply
We take a pragmatic approach to keep the country safe from diseases while allowing free trade via certification away from ports, ensuring illegal activity is addressed.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
North Shropshire
Question
These controls introduce logistical steps problematic for time-critical products like Maincrop Potatoes Ltd trading potatoes to producers. Can the Minister provide reassurance that the process will be streamlined enough?
Minister reply
We aim to ensure trade flows freely, particularly for goods such as potatoes, while protecting against diseases like brown rot which could devastate UK production.
Question
Could the Minister set out current policy towards a comprehensive UK-EU veterinary agreement and ongoing negotiations? This would reduce checks on agrifood movements across the Irish Sea.
Minister reply
If we reach an agreement, it might not include veterinary medicines but we continue conversations with EU friends to remove barriers for farmers and vets in Northern Ireland.
Question
Given the Minister's opposition to Brexit in 2016 due to red tape fears, do measures like these indicate that Brexit is turning into the largest chapter of red tape in UK economic history?
Minister reply
The public voted for Brexit and I embrace its opportunities. We will work tirelessly to make it work for the UK and seize available opportunities.
Shadow Comment
Stella Creasy
Shadow Comment
The shadow criticises the delay in implementing EU-style checks post-Brexit, highlighting potential chaos and economic disruption with no prior negotiation for a sanitary and phytosanitary deal. The response warns of inflationary pressures costing £300 million over three years (estimated independent analysis suggests it could be 10 times higher). It also raises concerns about the lack of clarity on specific charges, enforcement, and border control post infrastructure. Shadow questions the feasibility and necessity of checks affecting millions of lorries, potentially impacting small businesses and supply chains.
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