Logistics UK in border goods traffic warning

Trade body Logistics UK has warned that an “urgent focus” is required by government on forthcoming arrangements at the UK border, to avoid incoming goods and passenger traffic grinding “to a halt from this summer onwards”.

Logistics UK highlights a report published earlier this week by the House of Commons public accounts committee, EU Exit: UK Border Post transition, which examines the potential impact of the new arrangements and future risks relating to border management.

The committee referred to the planned introduction of further UK-based import controls in 2022, which it said government departments were “very confident” in their ability to implement.

“We hope that this confidence proves justified,” said the report.

“There remains much to be done to introduce import controls, and in particular to ensure that traders and hauliers across the 27 EU member states are ready as the controls are phased in.

“As they implement these controls, departments need to seek a balance between supporting and educating traders and others about their new responsibilities, and ensuring compliance with the new regime.”

The report also highlighted how new UK/EU border arrangements had “yet to be tested with normal passenger volumes”, and that they may be further challenged when biometric passport checks are introduced. The EU’s planned new entry and exit system (EES) is expected in 2022, which the committee said posed a risk of longer processing times for travellers moving from the UK to the continent.

The committee emphasised the importance of border checks not delaying the throughput of lorries, and said conversations between the Home Office and French authorities on how to avoid queues had begun, but were at an early stage.

One of the report’s recommendations was that the government should write to the committee “within six months, to provide an update on its scenario planning and whether its 2022 modelling has proved accurate, with particular emphasis on HGV drivers.”

Sarah Laouadi, head of European policy at Logistics UK, said: “Our industry has made huge strides in preparing for new border and customs arrangements with the EU since the Withdrawal Agreement was signed, but the imposition of new import checks this summer and introduction of new border processes could have a significant impact on the ability of UK businesses to trade effectively in the future.

“The new EES passport checking system needs urgent attention, as it currently would require drivers to leave their vehicles and cross live traffic lanes in ports and terminals to undergo passport checks.

“Not only would this create safety risks, but it will have a severe impact on the time it takes to cross the border and knock-on effects on traffic flows on both sides of the Channel.

“As we know, independent modelling has previously shown that a two-minute delay at the border could create up to 29 miles of queuing traffic and while some friction is unavoidable after the UK’s departure from the EU, the potential time that the new system would take could be disastrous for the UK’s highly interconnected supply chains.

“And with passenger volumes due to rise as the summer approaches, this delay would impact consumers as well.”

Ms Laouadi added that the industry had made major progress in preparing for new import checks on goods coming from the EU, despite the pressures of the pandemic.

“Businesses moving goods from the EU to the UK have been working hard to prepare for the new EU import requirements, but there is still much to be clarified by government,” she said.

“While government seems to be confident that all planned Border Control Posts (BCPs) will be built and staffed in time for July – albeit with interim arrangements and temporary facilities in certain cases – our main concern is the lack of details about the type of commodities that will be accepted at each location, which is crucial for businesses to rearrange their routes and operations if necessary.

“This information should be available by now. The operational changes we are talking about cannot be delivered at the last minute.

“We would like the UK government to show leadership on this to bring together all involved parties including the operators of BCPs and deliver the information the logistics industry needs to successfully navigate the next stages of import controls.”

She added that realising the ambition to move from the ‘day one’ arrangements to the best possible border procedures was of paramount importance.

“The 2025 border strategy has the potential to reduce the costs of trading, which did increase for EU imports and exports as a result of EU Exit procedures; it will also equally benefit UK businesses trading with the rest of the world.

“The speed at which these border reforms are introduced is crucial. There is no doubt the transformations proposed by government in its border strategy have great potential, but we believe some of these should be delivered even before 2025.

“Our sector is at the heart of every facet of the UK’s economy and now is the time for government to give UK importers and exporters the conditions to thrive.”