Changes to the required checks on plant and animal products moving between Great Britain and the European Union, as well as between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, have the potential to strengthen the UK internal market and boost trade with the EU by reducing bureaucracy, costs and border friction, according to business group Logistics UK.
The revisions, announced at the recent EU–UK Summit, will be welcomed in principle by the sector, said Nichola Mallon, head of trade and devolved policy at Logistics UK. However, she emphasised that full judgement will be reserved until the technical details are available: “The new deal has the potential to drive growth throughout the UK by boosting Great Britain agrifood trade to Northern Ireland, and between Great Britain and the EU, through reduced bureaucracy, costs and border delays. While the technical details have yet to be agreed, our members will welcome the deal in principle. It is now vital that the technical discussions and implementation, shaped by the input of businesses which have the expertise, are completed as a matter of urgency, so that UK traders and logistics businesses can realise the benefits of trading under the revised terms.”
Mallon added that the current requirement for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on plant and animal products moving between Great Britain and the EU is burdensome: “The current requirement for SPS checks is adding time, bureaucracy and cost to UK traders and logistics operators. It is a burden that is hard to manage for SMEs and groupage operators in particular, as they must pay fees on each of the smaller shipments that they combine together.”
She highlighted that Logistics UK has consistently advocated for a comprehensive SPS agreement since the UK voted to leave the EU: “Since the UK’s decision to leave the EU was announced, Logistics UK has been consistent in calling for a comprehensive SPS agreement between both economies. We have been making the case robustly to government and we are delighted at this commitment to a joint agreement that should smooth the passage of agrifood and plant products into and out of the country while protecting the UK’s biosecurity.”
Mallon also pointed to other ongoing challenges, including customs procedures and freedom of movement for logistics personnel: “There are still challenges facing the logistics sector when it comes to customs, the Schengen Area rule of a maximum of 90 days’ stay within any 180-day period, and the restrictions this places on servicing touring artists. Logistics UK will continue to urge the UK government and EU to be ambitious in this ongoing reset of relations and in the upcoming review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.”
She concluded with a reaffirmation of the industry’s willingness to support policymakers: “As always, our industry stands ready to provide real-world advice and expertise to governments on both sides of the Channel to ease the passage of goods to the end user.”
