THE introduction of controls on some imports from the European Union into Great Britain will be delayed because of disruption caused by coronavirus, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has announced.
The Government had agreed to phase in customs requirements for GB imports from the EU over a six-month period, but has extended the timetable after businesses said they needed more time to prepare. Full border control processes will now be introduced on January 1, 2022 – six months later than originally planned.
Gove told MPs the initial timetable was based on the impacts of the first wave of coronavirus, but that “we know now that the disruption caused by Covid has lasted longer and has been deeper than we anticipated” and that “we have listened to businesses who have made a strong case that they need more time to prepare”.
Under the revised timetable, pre-notification requirements for products of animal origin, certain animal by-products and high risk food will not be required until October 1 this year. Customs import declarations will still be required, but the option to use the deferred declaration scheme has been extended to January 1, 2022. From March 2022, checks at border control posts will take place on live animals and low-risk plants and plant products.
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