UK meat sector warns of unfair import costs
The British Meat Producers Association (BMPA) has claimed the UK government played down the costs of new post-Brexit border controls on imports.
The UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), which has been in operation since 30 April, includes physical checks for “the highest risk goods” and document checks for “consignments of all risk levels”, according to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The BMPA reported Defra claimed the new import requirements would cost “£330m ($420m) per annum overall, across all EU imports” and through all ports of entry, including extra administrative costs.
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In a letter seen by Sky News to Labour MP Stella Creasy, Cabinet Minister Lucy Neville-Rolfe estimated that “around half” of the £330m would be on health certification, leaving £165m for port charges.
However, the trade group has said “the real financial burden on importers – and ultimately consumers – is significantly higher”.
The BMPA claimed that so-called Consumer User Charges for animal, plants and plant products entering or transiting through the UK are costing far more than the government initially conveyed.
The association said: “The government’s focus has been on the Common User Charge for medium-risk products like fresh meat, capped at £145 per truckload.
“But real-world costs paint a starkly different picture. The ‘cap’ is per consignment utilising one Common Health Entry Document (CHED) not per truckload. It’s conceivable a groupage load of say five consignments with five CHEDs, each with five product lines could be charged £725 for a single truckload.”
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