// The government forced to delay imposing checks on EU goods entering the UK until October 1
// The move means that British exports to the EU are subject to full checks
The UK government has been forced to delay imposing checks on EU goods entering the UK until next year in a bid to stop Brexit placing further strain on supply chains.
The move means that British exports to the EU are subject to full checks, while imports into the UK by European competitors are free of paperwork and border controls.
The delay to October 1 was announced by Lord David Frost, Brexit minister, in a low-key written answer on a day dominated by government Covid announcements.
READ MORE: Experts respond to the Northern Ireland Brexit deal stalemate
“We want businesses to focus on their recovery from the pandemic rather than have to deal with new requirements at the border,” Frost said.
Frost said the delay to checks, which will particularly affect food and agricultural products, was in response to the supply chain problems, which he blamed on the pandemic.
Meanwhile, some EU officials suspect Britain’s border control regime is not yet fully ready for the new regime, although Frost insisted the government was “on track” to deliver the new systems.
Under Frost’s proposals, customs declarations and controls will be introduced on January 1 2022 as planned, but safety and security declarations will not be needed until July 1, 2022.
The requirement for pre-notification of agri-food imports to the UK will be introduced on January 1 2022 instead of on October 1 — the move will help to avoid further Christmas disruption to food supplies.
Meanwhile, new requirements for export health certificates, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022 — 18 months after Brexit took full effect.
Health certification for food products and physical checks on goods at border control posts, due to be introduced on 1 January 2022, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.
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