As the United Kingdom initiates the second phase of its post-Brexit border regime, concerns arise among port operators regarding the implementation details. The British government's ambition to establish the "most advanced border in the world" includes the commencement of physical checks on EU animal and plant imports starting April 30, as part of the "Border Target Operating Model." This model is necessitated by the UK's departure from the EU's single market. However, with the deadline approaching, port operators express significant apprehension about the financial viability of the high-spec inspection facilities they have financed, amidst a lack of clarity on recouping these investments.
Commercial ports are poised to perform identity and physical checks on "medium" risk animal and plant products to safeguard UK biosecurity. These procedures entail pest and disease testing, temperature assessments, and visual inspections, with the costs to be borne by importers. Despite the critical nature of these operations, ports report insufficient access to a vital post-Brexit government IT system, essential for billing the importers for these biosecurity checks. This situation underscores the tension between the government's border control objectives and the operational realities faced by ports.
Source: politico.eu