Meat industry decries increased border taxes
Additional costs for importing meat and plant products from the EU have disadvantaged meat traders, who warn of excessive increases for little to no benefit.
The introduction of “common user charges” on imports in late April were anticipated to be less than £145 a lorry.
However, reports from the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) suggest this figure could stretch to £870 for certain loads.
Common user charges have been applied to all imported goods.
This is despite checks only taking place on a small percentage of vehicles, which are diverted to the Border Control Post at Sevington, Kent.
Peter Hardwick, BMPA’s trade policy adviser, said: “This is a tax, as it is charged on every consignment passing through Dover and the Eurotunnel.
“It is levied to pay for the previous government’s over-engineered project to inspect 15-30% of consignments.
“Another department was already instructed to come up with a border operating model based on checks of about 2% of consignments.
“Checks at this lower level could have easily been managed at Dover and Eurotunnel.
Charlie Reeve | Farmers Weekly
Also:
UK meat sector warns of unfair import costs
UK minister says Brexit food checks will ‘have a light touch’
Uncertainty remains as new border control checks come into force
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